Algerian military plane flies over NATO states en route to Moscow
A Lockheed Hercules flown by Algeria's air force crossed five NATO countries, including Slovakia, before landing in Moscow, officials said.
An Algerian military transport plane flew through NATO airspace, including over Slovakia, before landing in Moscow on 6 October, Polish and Slovak authorities confirmed. The aircraft, a Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules, took off from Boufarik air base in Algeria and crossed Italy, Croatia, Hungary and Slovakia before flying over Belarus to Vnukovo airport in Moscow, Digi24 reported.
Poland's military said it had authorised the overflight based on information provided by Algeria, and that Algerian authorities had not declared any dangerous material on board, according to Digi24. The flight used a route cleared through Polish airspace and did not enter it without permission, a Polish military spokesman said, according to Wirtualna Polska, cited by Digi24.
It was not the first such flight between Russia and North Africa. Polish and Ukrainian military-focused publications Defence24 and Militarnyi have tracked several similar flights, including Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft and other Hercules transport planes, on this route over recent weeks, Digi24 reported. The cargo and purpose of the flight were not made public.
What we know
- An Algerian military Hercules transport plane flew through NATO airspace, including over Slovakia, before landing in Moscow on 6 October.
- Poland said it authorised the overflight based on information from Algeria and that no dangerous cargo was declared.
- Defence trackers Defence24 and Militarnyi have recorded several similar flights between Russia and North Africa in recent weeks.
- The cargo and purpose of the flight were not disclosed.
Why it matters for Europe
Russia has been Algeria's biggest supplier of weapons in recent years, providing 48% of its arms imports between 2020 and 2024, ahead of China on 19% and Germany on 14%, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute data cited by Digi24. Repeated military transport flights across NATO airspace between the two countries point to continuing logistics needs, such as spare parts, maintenance and training, that follow earlier arms deals.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 2 countries.
- Antena 3 CNN: Zbor misterios al unui avion Hercules algerian cu destinația Moscova, deasupra spațiului aerian NATO. Traseul a ocolit România
- The Slovak Spectator: Algerian military plane flew over Slovakia and landed in Moscow. Similar flights have been recorded for weeks
- Digi24: Un avion militar algerian a zburat prin spațiul aerian al NATO cu destinația Moscova. Ce țări a survolat
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- What flight is this?
- An Algerian military Hercules transport plane flew over NATO airspace, including Slovakia, before landing in Moscow on 6 October.
- Was the overflight authorised?
- Yes, Polish authorities said they cleared the flight based on information from Algeria and that no dangerous cargo was declared.
- Has this happened before?
- Yes, Polish and Ukrainian defence trackers have recorded several similar flights between Russia and North Africa in recent weeks, according to Digi24.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.