Two Russian Bomber Aircraft Fly Close to UK Airspace

Two Russian bombers which flew close to UK airspace have been chased away by an RAF jet fighter.

The unidentified aircraft, believed to be Tupolev 95s, were spotted off the coast of northeast Scotland.

RAF Typhoon was scrambled from Leuchars airbase, near Dundee, with additional crews on standby to intercept.

Eight previous incidents have been reported in 2013 when foreign planes have flown close to UK airspace.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: "The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace at all times and they are perfectly entitled to do so.

"Russian military flights have never entered UK sovereign airspace without authorisation."

The two Russian planes were escorted by the RAF Typhoon, one of Britain's quick reaction aircraft, as well as military aircraft from the Netherlands and Denmark, until they flew off towards Scandinavia.

Minor encroachments on international airspace are known to occur quite frequently as a way of testing the enemy's defences.

The incident comes at a time of heightened international tensions over the situation in Ukraine, following the annexation of Crimea by Russia last month.