
Colonel Michael Jazdyk spokesman Command North American Aerospace Defense, NORAD for its acronym in English, said American jets intercepted the Russian aircraft about 55 nautical miles (100 kilometers) off the coast of Alaska.
The Russian aircraft were identified as two tankers to transport fuel IL-78, two fighter jets and two Mig-31 Bear bombers at long range. They turned south and returned to their base in Russia were sent after American jets.