US airforce prevent Russian bombers in international airspace off Alaska's coast

The US military intercepted two Russian bombers in international airspace off Alaska's coast.

Navy Commander Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman, said a pair of F-22 Raptor aircraft intercepted the Russian TU-95 Bear bombers on Monday.

Ross described the intercept as 'safe and professional.'


Fox News said Tuesday the Russian planes flew within 100 miles of Alaska's Kodiak Island, and about 280 miles southwest of the Elmendorf Air Force Base.

The Russians were first spotted inside the Air Defense Identification Zone, which extends 200 miles off the coast of Alaska.

The zone is defended by the North American Aerospace Defense Command, which monitors air approaches to North America and defends the airspace.

 The network claimed the American jets escorted the Russian bombers for 12 minutes, and that an E-3 airborne early warning plane was also used to detect the jets.

The bombers then flew back to eastern Russia.

The mid-air incident comes just days after secretary of state Rex Tillerson said US and Russian relations had reached a 'low point'.

Tillerson made the remark while seated with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The two met in Moscow during the secretary's visit, during which Russian bombers also caused a similar incident near Japan.

The Japanese military scrabbled 14 fighters after a trio of bombers was spotted off the coast.

Monday's incident marked the first time in almost two years since Russian bombers last came so close to the American coast.

The previous confrontation in the skies took place on July 4, 2015, as President Vladimir Putin seemingly wanted to deliver a message to the US.

The bombers were off the coast of Alaska and California.

'Good morning, American pilots. We are here to greet you on your Fourth of July Independence Day,' the bombers told US officials, CNN reported at the time.

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