Fighter planes launched to intercept Russian bombers
American and Canadian fighter planes were launched to intercept a pair of Russian bombers after the bombers came close to Alaska while conducting an exercise, military officials said yesterday.
The Russian aircraft on Thursday penetrated a 19-kilometre buffer zone near American airspace, according to the North American Aerospace Defence Command, or NORAD.
The bombers never violated U.S. or Canadian airspace, said Maj. Gen. Brett Cairns, NORAD director of operations.
Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage sent four F-15s to meet the Russian aircraft, said Master Sgt. Tim Hoffman, a base information officer.
Two F-15s intercepted the planes by making visual contact and verifying their identity.
The Russian planes then left the buffer zone, he said: “We just carried out our typical mission,” Hoffman said. “They were in international airspace the whole time.”
CF-18 fighters also were launched from Canada, but did not intercept the Russian planes.
