Russian warplanes have been detected off the coast of Alaska in a terrifying escalation, military officials said Tuesday.
Officials with the North American Aerospace Defense Command said Russian aircraft never entered American or Canadian airspace.
Authorities did not name the type of Russian aircraft, how many flew close to the coast nor what their purpose was.
The Russian planes remained in international airspace, but reportedly crossed into a region named the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), which is beyond sovereign US airspace.
Aircraft are expected to identify themselves in the ADIZ, and NORAD says it surveils the area to maintain national security.
Russian warplanes have been detected off the coast of Alaska (pictured in a stock) in a terrifying escalation, military officials said Tuesday
