File Photo – AFP / Lehtikuva.
Finnish planes were involved in the Frontex coordinated operation which over the weekend saw over 5,000 immigrants rescued from the Central Mediterranean.
The rescue operation, which kicked off on Friday targeted migrants who had departed on May 25 from Libya.
Planes from Iceland were also involved in the aerial surveillance. British, Maltese, Belgian and Italian vessels were involved in the operation as well.
A total of 17 bodies were recovered from the sea.
Approximately 45,000 illegal migrants have arrived in Italy since the beginning of the year.
According to the United Nations, just fewer than 1,800 people have died or disappeared in the Mediterranean.
The worst accident happened in April when a cramped and overcrowded trawler capsized at the Libyan coast killing 800 people.
