Russian fighter intercepts U.S. bomber over Baltic Sea

MOSCOW -- Russia scrambled a fighter jet on Tuesday to intercept a nuclear-capable U.S. B-52 strategic bomber it said was flying over the Baltic Sea near its border, in an incident that had echoes of the Cold War.

The appearance of the B-52, a long-range bomber that first went into service in the 1950s, irked Moscow. A Russian Foreign Ministry official said the plane's appearance in Europe would not help ease tensions between the West and Russia. A former Russian Air Force commander called the move "disrespectful."

The U.S. military said its aircraft was in international airspace and declined immediate comment on the Russian plane's actions.

"We can confirm that the U.S. Air Force B-52 was operating in international airspace but we don't have any information to provide at this time regarding the behaviour of Russian aircraft," Air Force spokesman Colonel Patrick Ryder said.