Two Russian bombers get intercepted near Danish, Dutch airspace

The airforce troops of Denmark and the Netherlands have intercepted two Russian bombers that were approaching Dutch airspace, which is partially monitored by both countries within the framework of their NATO military alliance.

According to the Dutch Royal Airforce, two F-16s fighter jets took off in the early hours of August 14 to intercept the Russian aircraft which were flying towards its airspace. The Danish authorities first caught their signal and alerted their Dutch colleagues on their movement.

The Danish Airforce has confirmed the incident with both European countries assuring the public, that the Russian planes did not cross into their airspace. 

Denmark's defence authorities have posted this on their official X (former Twitter) page, stating, that an "F-16 fighter aircraft from the Danish Royal Forces was up this morning to identify two Russian planes in international airspace over the North Sea. At no time were the Russian planes inside Danish airspace."

F-16 kampfly fra @forsvaretdk var til morgen oppe for at identificere to russiske fly i internationalt luftrum over Nordsøen. De russiske fly var på ikke noget tidspunkt inde i dansk luftrum. #dkforsvar #værdatkæmpefor https://t.co/H3bPkp7azg

— Forsvaret (@forsvaretdk) August 14, 2023

A spokesperson for the Dutch Royal Airforce told Reuters, that it is not unusual for Russian planes to approach or violate European airspace and that all planes are being intercepted that either do not possess a unique identifying code, did not provide a flight plan ahead, or if there is no two-way conversation.