Dutch fighterjets scrambled for Russian bomber

Two F-16 fighter jets of the Dutch Airforce were scrambled on Wednesday to intercept two Russian bombers that had invaded Dutch airspace. The jets took off from Volkel air base, according to a 3.15pm tweet from the Airforce.

The Russian bombers were of the type Tupolev Tu-95, and carried the NATO codename Bear. A spokesman for the airforce said it happens a few times per year that foreign aircraft enter Dutch airspace without permission. The Dutch fighter jets had been scrambled to an area some 300 to 400 kilometers north of Leeuwarden, the most distant of Dutch airspace. An interception was not necessary; the Russian bombers had only briefly entered Dutch airspace and were then already being escorted by British aircraft.