Irish Times

British RAF fighter jets were on Wednesday scrambled for a second time in the space of days to intercept Russian bomber planes entering Irish-controlled airspace off the west coast.

The Department of Transport confirmed commercial and private flights over the Atlantic had to be warned about the Russian military aircraft, which were flying without making contact with air traffic controllers.

“The department can confirm that it was advised this morning of what is termed unidentified radar tracks in an area of international airspace in the North Atlantic oceanic region controlled by the Irish Aviation Authority,” a spokesman said.

“At all times these radar tracks remained outside Irish sovereign airspace.

“Such tracks indicate aircraft activity and in such events the air traffic controllers will and did on this occasion inform civil aircraft in the wider area.”

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Irish Times