RAF Lossiemouth Typhoons intercept Russian aircraft for third time

FOR a third time in six days, RAF Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby have been scrambled to intercept Russian long-range aircraft.

Two Russian Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers approached the UK Flight Information Region (FIR), north of the Scottish coast before flying down the west coast of Ireland.

These scrambles have been caused by the Russian aircraft entering the UK FIR, the UK’s controlled zone of international airspace.

An Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "Monitoring this zone ensures the safe passage for all other aircraft, including civilian transatlantic airliners that are under UK civilian air traffic control."

Jetting to know you

Other Moray news

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.