Russian bombers were in international airspace

The bombers were originally thought to be of the type …

The bombers were originally thought to be of the type Tupolev Tu-22M3 (above) but turned out to be Tupolev Blackjacks Tu-160. Photo/ AFP

The Russian bombers flying directly underneath an Icelandic passenger plane last Thursday were all the time within international airspace according to an official at NATO.

In a written response to a query by our sister publication mbl.is it says that the planes were not in contact with civilian air traffic control and neither did they present a flight plan. 

“On 22 September, multiple Russian Air Force aircraft were detected by air surveillance systems in international airspace northeast of the Norwegian coast. The aircraft flew along the Norwegian Coast, continued west of the British Isles, and along the French Atlantic Coast into the Bay of Biscay before turning back.  Multiple NATO quick response alert aircraft, including from the United Kingdom, visually identified the Russian Air Force aircraft as TU-160 strategic bombers.  The TU-160 aircraft remained in international airspace at all times, however they were not in contact with civilian Air Traffic Controllers and did not file a flight plan. “

The Icelandic Foreign Ministry says that two Russian bombers of the type Tupolev Blackjack Tu-160 flew some 6 - 9 thousand feet directly underneath an Icelandic passenger plane flying from Keflavik International Airport to Stockholm. 

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