Two Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber planes came within 50 miles of the Northern California coast on Monday, shortly after four of the Russian Tu-95 planes entered the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) near Alaska.
ABC News reports the incident began when four Russian planes entered the ADIZ off Alaska, prompting the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to send two American F-22 Raptor fighter jets to shadow the Russian bombers.
Two of the Russian planes headed back towards their home country, while the remaining two Russian bombers flew south and entered the ADIZ off Northern California.
Two U.S. F-15 jets were deployed and intercepted the bombers as they eventually flew within 50 miles of the coast before turning around and heading west.
NORAD spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis told The Washington Free Beacon:
“The last time we saw anything similar was two years ago on the Fourth of July."
None of the planes entered U.S. air space, and senior defense officials told NBC News "these forays are considered rather routine."
