Last night, an Italian Air Force ATR P-72A (reg. MM62298) took off from Sigonella AB and landed around 07:00 CEST at Souda Bay AB, on the island of Crete. The aircraft then took off again from Souda around 12:00 and returned to Sigonella.
No other trackable activity was recorded during the five-hour stopover. The purpose of this brief and unusual stay in Crete remains unclear — unless the aircraft landed to refuel and then carried out a mission with its ADS-B transponder turned off, possibly landing again in Souda before returning to Italy. But this remains purely speculative. All we can confirm is a strange night spent in Crete.
At the same time, the Russian flotilla — consisting of the cargo ship Sparta, the tanker General Skobelev, and escorted by the Steregushchiy-class corvette Boikiy — was sailing south of Crete during those very hours…
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Since the Italian Air Force was involved, I presume it had to do with the rising number of illegal Immigrants in this Area.
Obviously Italy was supporting the Drone of the Greek Coast Guard normaly survailing the Coast of Crete.
As You reported last Week, Italy, Greek and the EU are struggeling for a diplomatic Solution. Although theit first Attempt was not very successful.
As You mentioned, the russian Presence might have also been a strong argument for the Mission.