Tu-95 bombers: Brits scramble jets after Russian bombers approach
Tu-95 bombers: The approach of a pair of Russian Tu-95 'Bear' bombers prompted Dutch, British, and Danish air forces to scramble their own fighter jets.
AMSTERDAM
Dutch, British, and Danish jets scrambled Wednesday afternoon after a pair of Russian bombers approached their airspace over the North Sea.
The Dutch ministry identified the planes as two Russian TU-95 Bears and said it had launched two F-16s from Volkel air force base to intercept them. The Russian jets were escorted by aircraft from the three NATO members until they departed.
"That's why we scrambled, that's why the Danish scrambled and the English scrambled, to ensure they fly out of our air space," said Maj. Wilko Ter Horst.
Anders Fridberg, spokesman for the Danish Defense Command, said the Russian planes came in from the north.
"We just followed them and just turned back when we reached Germany," he said.
The Dutch ministry statement said such incidents have occurred before, citing one from March 21 and another from Sept. 10 last year.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.