BUENOS AIRES, November 6 (RIA Novosti) – Colombian officials will issue a note of protest to Moscow after two Russian Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers entered the country’s airspace without permission last week, the Latin American nation's president has said.
The aircraft entered Colombian airspace from Venezuela last Friday while heading for Nicaragua, President Juan Manuel Santos said Tuesday, according to a report on Colombia's NTN24 television station.
Russia failed to ask for authorization for the bombers to fly over Venezuela to Nicaragua and back over Colombian airspace last week, he said.
On their way back, the aircraft were intercepted by two Colombian Kfir fighter jets while flying in Colombia's airspace.
Colombia will make “a respective notification” to the Russian government following the incident, Santos said.
Russian officials said previously that the two bombers had flown over the international waters of the Caribbean Sea and arrived in Nicaragua last week after taking off from an airbase in Venezuela.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that the mission was carried out “in line with the combat training program” and was in line with all international norms.
