UK scrambles Typhoon jets to monitor Russian warplanes

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - Britain said Wednesday it had scrambled two jets to monitor Russian jets approaching its airspace.

The two Russian ‘Blackjack’ Tupolev Tu-160 long-range bombers were detected on radar in international airspace off the northeast coast of the U.K., according to a statement from the Royal Air Force (RAF).

The Russian jets allegedly flew over Norway before heading toward the U.K. and over the North Sea.

A RAF spokesman said Typhoon jets were scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth.

The incident took place as NATO forces are in Scotland for a training exercise named Exercise Joint Warrior.

“At no point did the Russian aircraft enter U.K. territorial airspace,” the spokesman added.