U.S. fighter jets were recently scrambled to intercept four Russian warplanes observed flying near Alaska, according to a statement from the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). This marks the ninth such incident reported by NORAD this year, and the third in approximately the last month alone. The most recent event took place on Wednesday, September 24, 2025.
NORAD’s statement, released early Thursday, confirmed the detection and tracking of two Russian Tu-95 bomber aircraft and two Su-35 fighter jets operating within the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). In response, nine U.S. aircraft were launched, including an E-3 Sentry command and control aircraft, four F-16 fighters, and four KC-135 refueling tankers, to positively identify and monitor the Russian jets.
Crucially, NORAD confirmed that the Russian aircraft maintained their presence in international airspace and did not cross into American or Canadian sovereign territory. While such Russian flights near Alaska are a regular occurrence and are generally not considered an immediate threat, these frequent encounters highlight the persistent geopolitical friction in the region.
This latest incident unfolds against a backdrop of escalating rhetoric and actions, particularly concerning the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Just prior to this detection, former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly expressed his belief that Ukraine could reclaim all territory seized by Russia—a significant departure from his previous stance advocating for Ukrainian concessions to end the war.
Simultaneously, NATO issued a stern warning to Russia, emphasizing its commitment to defending against any further violations of its airspace. This warning followed recent events, including the downing of Russian drones over Poland and an reported incursion by Russian fighter jets into Estonian airspace last week.
President Trump also suggested that NATO member countries should be prepared to shoot down Russian aircraft if they violate their airspace. When questioned about U.S. support for NATO allies in such a scenario, Mr. Trump stated that it would “depend on the circumstance.” His recent summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska had reportedly included discussions about arranging direct talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. However, Putin has consistently shown no interest in meeting with Zelenskyy, and Moscow has only intensified its military campaign in Ukraine.