British jets intercept eight Russian bombers

06 Sep 2007 17:31 - Staff Reporter

Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) scrambled four Tornado jets on Thursday to intercept eight Russian long-range bombers, the Ministry of Defence said. "In the early hours of this morning, four RAF Tornado F3 aircraft from RAF Leeming and RAF Waddington were launched to intercept eight Russian "bear" aircraft, which had not entered UK airspace," the ministry said.

Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) scrambled four Tornado jets on Thursday to intercept eight Russian long-range bombers, the Ministry of Defence said.

“In the early hours of this morning, four RAF Tornado F3 aircraft from RAF Leeming and RAF Waddington were launched to intercept eight Russian “bear” aircraft, which had not entered UK airspace,” the ministry said in a statement.

Sky News said the Russian aircraft did a U-turn when approached by the fighters.

It is at least the second time in recent months Britain has scrambled jets to intercept Russian bombers.—Reuters

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