U.S. Fighter Jets Escort Russian Aircraft Away from Alaska in Routine Intercept

American military aircraft intercepted five Russian planes flying near Alaska's coast on Thursday, though officials say the encounter posed no threat. The Russian aircraft stayed in international waters and were escorted away from the area by U.S. and Canadian defense forces.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — U.S. military aircraft responded Thursday to intercept five Russian planes flying in international waters off Alaska’s western coastline, though defense officials emphasized Friday that the encounter was routine and non-threatening.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command reported detecting and monitoring two Russian Tu-95 bombers, two Su-35 fighter jets, and one A-50 surveillance aircraft operating in the vicinity of the Bering Strait on Thursday.

NORAD deployed two F-16 fighters, two F-35 stealth jets, one E-3 surveillance plane, and four KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft to meet, identify, and accompany the Russian planes until they left the region, the command announced in an official statement.

According to NORAD’s release, “The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace.” The statement emphasized that such encounters “occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat.”

The Russian planes were flying within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone, located near the Bering Strait — a narrow waterway approximately 50 miles wide that divides the Pacific and Arctic oceans.

These identification zones extend beyond national airspace boundaries into international territory. Though considered international airspace, all aircraft must announce their identity when entering these zones for national security purposes, NORAD explained.

The defense command employs satellite technology, ground-based radar systems, airborne detection equipment, and aircraft to monitor and track aerial activity in the region.

While NORAD maintains its primary headquarters at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado, the organization operates its Alaska mission from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson located in Anchorage.