NATO says it scrambled jets Sunday to track Russian patrol aircraft over North Atlantic

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – NATO fighter jets scrambled on Sunday to track a Russian maritime patrol aircraft that violated air safety rules over the North Atlantic, the alliance said on Tuesday.

“The (Russian) aircraft was not complying with international air safety rules and could pose a danger to other aircraft in the region,” NATO’s air command said in a tweet, specifying the plane as a Tu-142 with the NATO code name BEAR-F.

The scrambled jets were quick reaction alert fighters from Britain and Norway, according to NATO.

(Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Chris Reese)