Typhoon jets scrambled by RAF after ‘unidentified aircraft’ spotted

Typhoon jets have been responding to an “unidentified aircraft” approaching the UK today (February 2), The Royal Air Force has confirmed. 

The jets were launched from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. A Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker from RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire also joined the awaiting group.

An RAF spokesman declined to provide further detail on the operation until it was over, reported Manchester Evening News. The RAF does routinely intercept aircraft approaching what it describes as the “UK area of interest”.

Similarly, jets were launched in November 2021 in response to Russian TU-160 Blackjack strategic bombers.

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At the time, officials said the fighters escorted the Russian aircraft out of the “area of interest”, and that the bombers did not in fact enter UK airspace.

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