Russian pilots waved their hand: NYT gave details of the MiG flight to Estonia

During the interception of the MiG-31 in Estonian airspace, the Italian pilots flew up to the Russian planes so close that they saw the Russian pilots waving to them. This is reported by The New York Times.

Last week, Italian F-35 fighter pilots took to the air over the Gulf of Finland to intercept Russian MiG-31 warplanes that allegedly made a 12-minute invasion of Estonian airspace.

According to Colonel Gaetano Farina, commander of the Italian NATO task force patrolling the airspace in the area, the Russian fighters were intercepted as soon as they entered Estonian airspace. The Italian pilots flew close enough to the Russian MiGs to see "the Russian pilots waving at them," Farina said.

"Two Italian planes shook their wings, which is a world-famous maneuver signaling that they are intercepting the Russians. According to him, the Russian pilots then allowed the Italian planes to escort them back to international airspace and cross the Russian border in Kaliningrad," the publication says.

According to the colonel, while the Russian fighters were in Estonian airspace — "at some point at a depth of about five miles" - the Italian pilots assessed what kind of weapons they were carrying. He claims that these were air—to-air missiles, not bombs, "which, according to Estonian officials, led them to the conclusion that an attack on the population of the country is extremely unlikely."

Russia has denied leaving international airspace, infuriating Estonian officials who warn that Russia's invasion may not stop there. Ukraine, the newspaper emphasizes.

As reported by EADaily, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reacted to the accusation from Estonia that three Russian military aircraft allegedly invaded the airspace of the Baltic country. The corresponding statement was published on September 20. It says that on September 19, three Russian MiG-31 fighters made a scheduled flight from Karelia to the airfield in the Kaliningrad region.

"The flight took place in strict accordance with International rules for the use of airspace, without violating the borders of other states, which is confirmed by means of objective control," the department said.