THE RUSSIAN Embassy in Ireland has issued a robust defence of the country’s decision to fly bomber jets near Irish airspace.

A diplomatic incident was sparked when Russian Tu-95 'Bear' bomber planes flew past the west coast of Ireland and into the English Channel before turning and going back the same way.

It was report that the heavily armed aircraft were flying without their transponders – meaning they were invisible to commercial airlines.

The Department of Defence said while the Russian aircraft did not enter Irish sovereign airspace at any time, such non-notified and non-controlled flight activity is not acceptable.

Speaking to Independent.ie, a spokesman for Russian Ambassador Maxim Peshkov insisted the country did not violate international aviation rules.

“It was totally within international rules and only within international airspace,” spokesman Andrey Nikeryasov said.

He said there was no threat to commercial airlines and the Russian Ambassador in Britain gave a full explanation to the British government.

However, Mr Nikeryasov also pointed to “dangerous manoeuvres” recently made by NATO air forces near Russia.

“The Russian authorities warned many time the NATO authorities about our concerns about the flights of NATO air forces very close to Russian borders. We have warned and sent messages to the NATO authorities.” He said.

Mr Nikeryasov said he did not know why Russian jets were flying near Ireland.

In a statement, the Department of Defence said the Russian aircraft did not enter Irish sovereign airspace at any time, but were in an area for which the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has air traffic control responsibility.

"The IAA coordinated closely with their UK counterparts at all stages during the incident so as to avoid a risk to any civil aircraft during the incident," it said.

"Although there was no such risk on this occasion, such non-notified and non-controlled flight activity is not acceptable.

"The Irish authorities will discuss with their UK counterparts how best to seek to resolve this through the International Civil Aviation Organisation."

Online Editors