US aircraft intercept Russian fighter jets near Alaska

The Russian aircraft were identified as two IL-78 refueling planes, two Mig-35 fighter jets and two long-range bombers.

AP news agency quoted a US defense official as saying that two US F-22 fighter jets were dispatched to intercept six Russian military aircraft flying near the western coast of Alaska.

Russian Mig-35 fighter jet (Photo: AFP)

Lieutenant Colonel Michael Jazdyk, spokesman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), said that US fighter jets intercepted Russian aircraft about 55 nautical miles off the coast of Alaska at 7 p.m. (local time) on September 17.

The Russian aircraft were identified as two IL-78 refueling planes, two Mig-35 fighter jets and two long-range bombers.

Then at about 1:30 a.m. (local time) Thursday morning, two Canadian CF-18 fighter jets were also scrambled to intercept two Russian long-range bombers flying about 40 nautical miles off the Canadian coast.

The Russian planes then left without incident.

Mr. Jazdyk said that over the past five years, aircraft under NORAD's command have intercepted more than 50 Russian bombers flying near North American airspace./.

According to VOV