UK fighter jets scrambled due to Russian military aircraft

The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force said it had to scramble to fighter jets in response to four Russian military aircraft approaching the country, The Associated Press reported.

The military force said Wednesday the Russian strategic bombers were “intercepted and escorted,” saying the four aircraft did not enter the U.K.’s airspace.

Authorities said the Royal Air Force jets took off from bases in Lossiemouth, Scotland, with a Voyager air-to-air refueling tanker that launched from Oxfordshire, England, joining them, according to the AP.

The Royal Air Force routinely intercepts approaching aircraft that are considered to be in the country’s “area of interest.”

The air force has previously said Russian military aircraft entering its policed international airspace zone can pose a threat to other air flyers due to them not communicating with air traffic control.

The force launched jets in November in response to Russian strategic bombers, with officials saying fighters escorted the Russian aircraft away without the Russian bombers entering U.K. airspace.

UK authorities did not provide any more information about the operation Wednesday, the AP noted.