Fighter jets scrambled from Alaska and Canada as Russian warplanes spotted in the Arctic, NORAD says [Video]

A combat air patrol of American and Canadian fighter jets was scrambled this week after multiple Russian warplanes were spotted in the Arctic, the North American Aerospace Defense Command said Thursday, marking the latest military incident to unfold in a region that is drawing increasing scrutiny.

The Russian aircraft, which remained in international airspace, were not seen as a threat, but eight military planes were dispatched to monitor their activity, NORAD said in a statement. Two Canadian CF-18 fighter jets and one refueling aircraft were launched from the Canadian NORAD region, while two U.S. F-35 fighter jets and two refueling aircraft tankers were launched from the Alaskan NORAD region. The Alaskan base also dispatched one E-3 airborne warning and control system plane, or AWAC, which the Air Force says “can detect, identify and track” enemy forces far from U.S. and NATO country boundaries.

Several hours later, NORAD said it …