The plane spent approximately one minute in Estonian airspace, spokespeople at the Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) said. Its transponder was turned on and it had presented a flight plan, however the aircraft had no radio contact with the Estonian Air Navigation Services, however.

Estonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador to Estonia and presented him with a diplomatic note regarding the matter.

This incident marks the first time this year that a Russian aircraft has made an unauthorized incursion into Estonian airspace.

Russian aircraft violated the Estonian air boundary on two occasions in 2017.

An Ilyushin IL-96 aircraft belonging to the Rossiya company of the Administration Division of the Russian Presidential Administration entered Estonian airspace without permission on May 3. While the Russian aircraft was flying with its transponder switched on, it had not presented a flight plan to Estonian Air Navigation Services by the time the airspace violation took place, and there was no radio contact with the aircraft.

A Russian Ilyushin IL-76 aircraft entered Estonian airspace near Vaindloo without permission on Nov. 21 as well. The plane spent less than one minute in Estonian airspace, its transponder was switched on and a flight plan had been presented, but the aircraft had no radio contact with Estonian Air Navigation Services.

In 2016, Russian aircraft violated the Estonian airspace on seven separate occasions.