The flight tower at Keflavík airport was seemingly unaware of two Russian bombers that flew through Icelandic airspace last Friday.
This is claimed by Hjördís Gudmundsdóttir, press officer of the Icelandic Directorate of Civil Aviation (DCAA), although the Minister for Foreign Affairs has made claims to the contrary. RÚV online reports.
Gudmundsdóttir says that the DCAA only registers aircraft that have their radars on, and this is not always the case with military aircraft.
This was an unusual incident, as Icelandic aviation authorities are usually notified of military rehearsals near the country and other aircraft are then directed elsewhere.
Gudmundsdóttir admits that communications with radar stations have been somewhat lax since the departure of the US military, but says that the Icelandic airspace is just as secure as it was before.
