Warsaw Starts Inquiry Into Russian Pilot's Alleged Violation of Polish Airspace

The prosecutor's office of the Polish city of Czestochowa on Wednesday started an investigation into the Russian pilot's alleged intrusion into the Polish closed flying zone, local media reported.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The border controls were introduced in Poland due to the NATO summit that took place in Warsaw on July 8-9 and World Youth Day, an international Catholic event hosted by Poland in late July. Earlier on Wednesday, the Polish Border Guard said that the border controls were over.

Last week, spokesman for the Polish Defense Ministry Bartholomew Mischevich said that on July 26 a Russian light aircraft violated the airspace of Poland, near Czestochowa, and the Polish F-16 fighters intercepted the plane, and forced it to land. The pilot was briefly detained by police and released after inspection.

According to the Polish Press Agency, the subject of the investigation is the violation of the Polish sovereign border without the required permit, which was necessary in connection with the imposed border control regime. The Russian pilot may be charged with up to five years in prison.

The Russian aircraft was flying from Krakow to the east-central Polish city of Radom to take part in the 12th FAI World Advanced Aerobatic Championships that will kick off on August 4.