RAF Typhoon Scrambled Over Russian Alert

23 April 2014, 18:55 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

British military aircraft were scrambled to investigate Russian planes which flew close to UK airspace, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Officials said Typhoon aircraft were dispatched from Scottish base RAF Leuchars after the Russian presence was detected.

A defence spokesman said: "Typhoon quick reaction alert aircraft were launched today from RAF Leuchars to determine the identity of unknown aircraft that approached the Nato air policing area north of Scotland and could not be identified by other means.

"The aircraft were subsequently identified as Russian military aircraft. The Russian military aircraft remained in international airspace at all times as they are perfectly entitled to do so.

"Russian military flights have never entered UK sovereign airspace without authorisation.''

Similar incidents happened eight times during 2013, an MoD spokesman said.