The military alliance routinely scrambles fighter aircraft to intercept Russian warplanes that approach or fly near NATO airspace. NATO says the Russian planes it intercepts often fail to use their transponders and don't communicate with air traffic controllers or file a flight plan. NATO jets are sent up to identify them.

The United States fields the world’s largest and most capable fighter fleet in 2026—but what truly sets it apart is how that power is structured. Based on World Air Forces Directory 2026 data, the US operates more than 2,700 active combat aircraft across the United States Air Force, US Navy, and Marine Corps, followed by China, Russia, and India.

The Austrians suspected something shady was going on. They were right.

To mark the 90th anniversary of the first flight of the legendary fighter, a Spitfire took to the skies with various frontline British aircraft.

The four passengers involved reportedly failed to adhere to cabin crew instructions, resulting in the aircraft returning to gate and offloading them.