NORAD Says All Stayed In International Airspace,  Flights Appeared 'Non-Threatening'

NORAD twice scrambled jets last week to intercept Russian military aircraft that appeared to be on course to enter U.S. or Canadian airspace, according to government officials.

The flights occurred on two separate days, according to to a report from USA Today. On Wednesday at about 7 pm local time last week, six aircraft including two MiG-31 fighters, two long range bombers, and two tankers were checked out by two Alaska-based F-22 Raptor airplanes as they approached the Alaskan border. The Russians reportedly turned south towards Russia before violating U.S. airspace, according to the pilots.

A few hours later, two additional bombers were intercepted by Canadian CF-18 fighters off the Canadian coast. That also appeared to be "nothing more than a training exercise," according to NORAD spokesman Army Lt Col. Michael Jazdyk.

Jazdyk said that NORAD was "monitoring the situation to make sure they weren't going to go in our airspace."

NORAD says such intercepts are not uncommon, occurring about once a month on average.

(MiG-31 Image from file)

FMI: www.norad.mil