American fighter jets scrambled on September 24, 2025, to intercept four Russian military aircraft flying near Alaska, marking the latest in a series of tense encounters between Russia and NATO-aligned nations. According to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), the Russian contingent consisted of two Tu-95 long-range strategic bombers and two Su-35 fighter jets, all operating within Alaska's Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ)—a stretch of international airspace adjacent to U.S. and Canadian sovereign territory.
NORAD, the joint U.S.-Canada air defense body, responded decisively. As reported by CBS News and echoed by NewsNation, the command deployed an E-3 early warning and control aircraft, four F-16 fighters, and four KC-135 refueling tankers to "positively identify and intercept" the Russian aircraft. The Russian planes, however, never breached U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace. NORAD emphasized, "This Russian activity in the Alaskan ADIZ occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat."
While such encounters are described as routine, they remain under close scrutiny, especially as they often coincide with broader geopolitical tensions. The ADIZ, as explained by The Kyiv Independent, is an area where countries require foreign aircraft to identify themselves for national security reasons. Russian military flights into this zone are common, yet each event is watched closely for signs of escalation or probing of U.S. and NATO defenses.
This most recent interception came just about a month after a similar incident in late August 2025, when U.S. jets scrambled to track a Russian reconnaissance aircraft in the ADIZ. That event was notable for being the fourth such encounter in a single week, with NORAD intercepting and tracking Russian spy planes multiple times. As reported by Times Now News, these repeated flights are widely viewed as tests of U.S. and allied NATO preparedness.
Adding to the tension, in September 2024, NORAD released dramatic video footage showing a Russian jet flying just feet away from a NORAD aircraft off Alaska's coast—an act described by a U.S. general as "unsafe, unprofessional and endangered everyone." None of the recent incidents, however, have resulted in Russian aircraft violating U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace. Still, each close call raises the stakes in an already fraught relationship.
Across the Atlantic, airspace violations have also surged. Since late August 2025, European countries have reported a string of incidents involving both manned aircraft and unidentified drones. On September 10, Russia attacked Ukraine with drones and missiles, and several Ukrainian drones entered Polish airspace. For the first time, Polish aircraft used weapons against these drones, according to statements from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who revealed that Poland's airspace had been violated at least 19 times by September 2025.
Romania experienced its own incursion on September 13, when F-16 fighters detected a drone in national airspace and tracked it for roughly 20 kilometers southwest of the Kiliya-Veche commune before it vanished from radar. Just days later, on September 19, three Russian MiG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace for 12 minutes, while Poland's Border Guard reported that two Russian fighters had violated the security zone of the Petrobaltic drilling platform in the Baltic Sea.
These incursions have prompted a robust response from NATO and the European Union. NATO launched the "Eastern Guardian" initiative, deploying ground forces in eight countries to bolster the defense of Europe's eastern flank. Meanwhile, Poland and Estonia initiated consultations under NATO Article 4, which is triggered when a member state believes its security is threatened. European Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius convened talks on creating a "drone wall" along the EU's eastern border, aiming to fortify the region against further drone incursions.
The situation escalated further on September 22, when Copenhagen Airport suspended operations due to unidentified drone activity. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described these drone flights as "the most serious attack on Denmark’s critical infrastructure." The disruption underscored the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles, which are increasingly being used to probe and potentially undermine the security of NATO member states.
These repeated airspace violations and drone incidents come against the backdrop of Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, now well into its third year. The conflict has heightened security concerns across Europe and the Arctic, regions where Russia and NATO frequently find their interests—and their aircraft—colliding. As The Kyiv Independent noted, the Arctic is of growing strategic interest for both Russia and NATO, with each side seeking to assert its presence and monitor the other's activities.
In early September 2025, Poland shot down several Russian drones that had entered its airspace, marking the first time NATO forces have downed Russian drones since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Other NATO members, including Denmark and Estonia, have also intercepted drones and fighter jets near their borders. The increased tempo of these incidents has put European militaries on high alert, with officials warning that each violation could be a precursor to more serious confrontations.
Political leaders have responded with a mix of caution and resolve. On September 23, at the United Nations General Assembly, U.S. President Donald Trump urged NATO countries to "shoot down Russian drones that violate their airspace." His recommendation was welcomed by some officials in Poland and Estonia, who have called for a firmer stance against Russian incursions. Meanwhile, Danish authorities are investigating the drone activity near Copenhagen Airport, describing the perpetrators as a "capable actor"—though they have stopped short of directly blaming Russia.
The U.S. and its allies continue to stress that while Russian military activity in the ADIZ and European airspace is not immediately considered a threat, the frequency and boldness of these maneuvers cannot be ignored. Each incident is a reminder of the fragile balance that exists between routine military operations and the potential for misunderstanding—or worse, escalation.
As NORAD explained, "Russian military activity in the ADIZ is common and not considered a threat, but it was the latest in a series of flights by Russian aircraft seen by many as testing the preparedness of US and allied NATO nations." With tensions simmering across multiple fronts, vigilance remains the order of the day for both American and European defense officials.
The pattern of near-misses, drone incursions, and military posturing serves as a stark reminder that, even in peacetime, the skies above the Arctic and Europe are anything but calm. As the world watches, each new encounter brings with it not just the risk of confrontation, but also the hope that cooler heads will continue to prevail.