Avoiding NATO, the plane took a detour to bring Putin to Germany.

The plane carrying Russian President Vladimir Putin took a roundabout route, avoiding the airspace of NATO countries, on its way from Russia to Hamburg, Germany.

The circular flight path of the Russian government aircraft with registration number RA-96022 - Screenshot from FlightRadar24

According to FlightRadar24, a website that tracks the flight paths of aircraft worldwide, a Russian government aircraft with registration number RA-96022, flying from Moscow to Hamburg on July 6th, diverted its flight path and flew over the Baltic Sea.

Conventional civilian aircraft operating on this route would typically choose a direct flight path over Belarus and Poland – both member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

However, the Russian plane did not fly that route, and even avoided the airspace of the Baltic NATO countries.

The Russian plane flew straight out over the Baltic Sea, circling through Danish airspace before reaching Germany.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment or reveal which officials were on board the plane.

Subsequent news reports on Russian television showing Putin disembarking from his plane in Hamburg revealed that the aircraft had the same registration number as the Russian plane that had circled, as reported by FlightRadar24.

In other words, the plane carrying the Russian president flew a roundabout route, "avoiding" the airspace of NATO countries when it arrived in Germany.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's private jet, registration number RA-96022, arrived in Hamburg, Germany, on the evening of July 7th. - Screenshot from Ruptly

According to Reuters, it remains unclear why Putin's plane had to circle in that way. The Russian leader's aircraft has flown through NATO airspace on numerous occasions.

Data from FlightRadar24 shows that, with the exception of Ukraine (which closed its airspace to Russian aircraft), in the last 12 months Putin's plane has consistently chosen to fly in a straight line over NATO countries, most often Poland.

On June 21, the plane carrying Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was approached by a NATO F-16 fighter jet while flying over the Baltic Sea.

Immediately, a Russian Su-27 aircraft approached and "showed off" the missiles mounted under its fuselage before departing.

The NATO aircraft then began to keep their distance before disappearing from the Russian plane's sight.

According to tuoitre.vn