RAF Lossiemouth scrambles fighter jets from base to intercept Russian aircraft
A SCOTS RAF base scrambled fighter jets to monitor and intercept a Russian aircraft.
QRA Typhoons ZK325 Phantom11 & ZK345 Phantom12 were launched from Lossiemouth earlier today.
As the Russian aircraft continued towards UK airspace, RAF Typhoons were launched.
They intercepted two cold war era aircraft over the North Sea - shadowing the planes the whole time.
A voyager tanker was also sent for refuelling purposes.
An RAF spokesperson confirmed the aircraft has been scrambled but they cannot comment on operations until they are completed.
An RAF Typhoon pilot from RAF Lossiemouth Said: “We worked closely with units from around the Royal Air Force to deliver another successful intercept, maintaining the integrity of UK and NATO airspace throughout.
“We were initially kept informed by our NATO colleagues and then routed directly to the Bears by the RAF Control and Reporting Centre.
"Air to air refuelling from an RAF Voyager ensured we were able to stay on task until the mission was complete, and the aircraft departed from the UK’s area of interest.”
The two Russian jets were tracked by NATO as they transited within NATO’s northern air policing area.
A NATO official said: "NATO Air Policing has been in place across Europe for 60 years, and remains a fundamental component of how NATO provides security to its members.
"Across Europe, NATO fighter jets are on duty around the clock, ready to scramble in case of suspicious or unannounced flights near the airspace of NATO Allies.
"This includes Air Policing missions in which fighter detachments rotate in and out of allied countries to help safeguard their skies. We remain vigilant.
"NATO scrambled its air forces across Europe more than 400 times in 2020 to intercept unknown aircraft - mostly from Russia - approaching NATO airspace.”.
We told how two American aircrafts declared mid-flight emergencies over Scotland this week.
On Wednesday, a - indicating a general emergency - near the Isle of North Uist, Outer Hebrides, on Tuesday afternoon.
The UAL47 flight - destined for Houston, USA - only took off from Frankfurt, Germany at 1.48pm.
It was due to land in America at 5pm, but re-routed to Shannon Airport in Ireland due to a "medical emergency".
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And yesterday, a US Air Force plane flying over Scotland had to return to Prestwick after
The military Boeing flight, which is used to re-fuel other planes, was just over 6000ft when the emergency was declared.
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The plane issued a 7700 alert after leaving Prestwick airport, Ayrshire.
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