Japan protests to USSR over airspace violations

Japan has lodged a strong protest with the Soviet Union after the violation of Japanese airspace by two Soviet llyushin 38 reconnaissance aircraft last Sunday, the Foreign Ministry said. The Soviet aircraft violated Japan's 12-mile airspace over the Sea of Japan for about eight minutes, despite warnings from two interceptor planes.

The Soviet Union said the incident off the northwest coastal town of Wajima was due to pilot error and not intentional.