MOSCOW. Aug 31 (Interfax) - Russia's Northern Fleet has scrambled a MiG-31 fighter jet as a Royal Norwegian Air Force P8-A Poseidon plane approached Russia's borders over the Barents Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
"To identify the aerial target and prevent a violation of Russia's state border, a MiG-31 fighter aircraft from the Northern Fleet's on-duty air defense forces was scrambled. The Russian fighter jet identified the aerial target as a P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft of the Royal Norwegian Air Force," the ministry said.
With the Russian aircraft approaching, the foreign military plane turned away from Russia's border, and no border violation was permitted, it said.
"The Russian fighter jet's flight strictly complied with international rules on the use of airspace over neutral waters, without crossing international air routes and without dangerously approaching the foreign aircraft," it said.