Russian warplanes have been detected off the coast of Alaska in a terrifying escalation, military officials said Tuesday.
Officials with the North American Aerospace Defense Command said Russian aircraft never entered American or Canadian airspace.
Authorities did not name the type of Russian aircraft, how many flew close to the coast nor what their purpose was.
The Russian planes remained in international airspace, but reportedly crossed into a region named the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), which is beyond sovereign US airspace.
Aircraft are expected to identify themselves in the ADIZ, and NORAD says it surveils the area to maintain national security.
It comes just two months after US fighter jets were scrambled to the ADIZ region twice in three days when Russian military aircraft, including bombers, were also detected.
That incident first saw two bombers and two fighter jets buzz near Alaska, and after they were shadowed away by US aircraft, Russia followed it two days later by sending two more jets in a show of force.
And in September, Russian aircraft came dangerously close to colliding with a US fighter jet as shocking footage showed the Russian pilot turn at the last second to avoid a crash.
Russian warplanes have been detected off the coast of Alaska (pictured in a stock) in a terrifying escalation, military officials said Tuesday
Russian military aircraft have been spotted in the ADIZ airspace at least two more times in recent months, as experts say the nation is stepping up its hostile approach to the US
US officials say instances of Russian aircraft violating ADIZ airspace come as the nation has been stepping up its hostile approach to the US.
NORAD said Tuesday that although the incidents are repeating, the aircraft spotted near Alaska this week were ‘not seen as a threat.’
