Tension in the air: planes take off against Russia

British and Norwegian warplanes intercepted a Russian “Tupolev TU-142” type patrol plane flying north of Scotland.

According to a statement from the British Royal Air Force (RAF), an interception operation was carried out yesterday against the Russian plane in the North Sea between Scotland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. A Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet took off from RAF Lossiemouth airbase against Russian “Tupolev TU-142” type patrol aircraft approaching UK airspace from the north-east from international airspace.

The Russian plane never entered UK airspace. The British warplane, which took off as part of the NATO intervention mission, was accompanied by a Norwegian “F-35A” type plane, which took off from Norway.

RAF planes had intercepted Russian planes flying towards the Finnish and Estonian borders with German air force planes on March 15 and April 17. (AA)