Instant Alert: US Navy scrambled jets after Russian planes approached aircraft carrier

MANAGE SUBSCRIPTIONS   |   UNSUBSCRIBE   |   VIEW ONLINE   US Navy scrambled jets after Russian planes approached aircraft carrier by Phil Stewart, David Alexander on Oct 29, 2015, 11:32 AM Advertisement WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Navy aircraft carrier scrambled four F-18 jets on Tuesday after two Russian anti-submarine aircraft flew within a nautical mile of the warship, a Navy official said on Thursday. News media reports said the incident occurred in international waters east of the Korean peninsula. A U.S. Navy official said two Russian TU-142 "Bear" aircraft flew within a nautical mile of the Reagan, prompting it to launch four F-18 fighter jets to escort the planes away from the ship. The TU-145 Bear is a long-range anti-submarine warfare plane and a variant of the Tu-95 Bear strategic bomber. The Navy official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the pilots from both sides behaved professionally and the Tu-145s moved away from the U.S. carrier. Media accounts quoted Navy officials as saying the incident was not unprecedented. SEE ALSO: China: We will take 'all necessary' measures in response to US Navy patrols of disputed South China Sea   Share the latest business news with your network: Email sent to:   |   Manage your email preferences   |   Unsubscribe Terms of Service   |   Privacy Policy Business Insider. 150 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011