US and Canadian planes intercept Chinese and Russian bombers near Alaska

American and Canadian fighter jets intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers in international airspace near the state of Alaska on Wednesday, 24 July. This was reported by the Joint US-Canadian North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD).

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"NORAD detected, tracked, and intercepted two Russian TU-95 aircraft and two PRC H-6 military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defence Recognition Zone," the statement said.

The zone is a perimeter where air traffic outside national airspace is monitored to provide additional response time in the event of hostile action.

Interceptions of Russian aircraft when they are contacted visually or electronically by US or Canadian aircraft are relatively common in the region.

"United States and Canadian fighter jets conducted the intercept," NORAD said, adding that the bombers "remained in international airspace and did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace" and that their activities "are not considered a threat."

Source: NORAD