Canadian Air Force intercepts Russian bombers over Atlantic

Canadian Air Force fighters intercepted two Russian strategic bombers over the Atlantic Ocean, CBC television reported, citing Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay.

Canadian F-18 pilots took to the air from the Bagotville Air Force Base in Quebec after identifying two Russsian Tu-95 Bears in the country's buffer zone on Wednesday. The Russian aircraft were 450 kilometers off the coast of Labrador.

Russia resumed strategic bomber patrol flights over the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans in August 2007, following an order from then-President Vladimir Putin.

The patrols are regularly performed by Tu-95 Bear and Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers, and by Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers.

All flights by Russian aircraft are performed in strict compliance with international law on the use of airspace over neutral waters, without intruding the airspace of other states.