>>http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/02/us/us-spy-plane/index.html?hpt=hp_t3
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>>So an US spy plane gets highlighted and then hightailed (or is "tailgated" the proper expression) and flees over the territory of a neutral country, without permission. Then five days later it happens again. Ouch.
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>>The funny thing is this happened just one day after MH17 was taken down... and everybody stayed silent until the Swedes published it.
>
>I don't see why they needed to divert into Swedish airspace.
>The RAF have been tracking Russian planes over the North Sea for years

Seems odd that the US plane deemed itself sufficiently threatened to be chased out of international airspace.
Come to that how did it get to Sweden without crossing either Finland or Norway ?

That said, you're right about it not being that unusual.

FWIW, I was flying a small twin up to Inverness some years ago. In and out of cloud. Got a cryptic 'Maintain course, speed and altitude' from ATC and then, minutes later, had a Tornado from Leuchars cross my nose at about 100yds. I'm sure they were just using me for intercept practice. Guess I should have filed a 'near miss' report but .........