NATO fighters scrambled three times over Baltic states due to Russian aircraft

NATO air policing aircraft were scrambled three separate times over the Baltic states on September 7, 2026 in response to Russian military aircraft operating in the area. The intercepts are part of the NATO enhanced air policing mission that has been in place in the Baltic region since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and has been significantly reinforced following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Air policing in the Baltic region

NATO maintains a continuous air policing presence in the Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — which do not have their own combat aircraft capable of policing their airspace. Alliance members rotate aircraft and personnel through the mission on a regular basis, with multiple bases in the region. Scrambles are routine responses to unidentified aircraft or military aircraft failing to file flight plans or maintain radio contact.

Context of heightened activity

The triple scramble reflects continued elevated military activity in the Baltic region. Russia regularly conducts military flights near NATO airspace, and the alliance's response forces have been placed on heightened alert since the beginning of Russia's war in Ukraine. The Baltic states border both Russia and Belarus and have been among the most vocal advocates for increased NATO presence on their territory.