The US and Canadian Air Force were forced to scramble four fighter jets Saturday to intercept two Russian bombers closing in on North American airspace off the coast of Alaska.

Two US Air Force F-22 fighter jets and two Canadian CF-18 jets escorted the supersonic, nuclear capable aircraft after they were spotted above North America.

Both jets 'remained in international airspace', according to The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

Officials said 'NORAD positively identified 2x Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers entering the Canadian Air Defense Identification Zone'.

The US and Canadian Air Force scrambled four fighter jets to intercept two Russian bombers closing in on North American airspace off coast of Alaska, NORAD tweeted

Both jets 'remained in international airspace', according to The North American Aerospace Defense Command, who posted online about the incident

NORAD tweeted: 'An E-3 AWACS, 2x F-22, 2x CF-18 fighter jets from NORAD positively identified 2x Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers entering the Canadian Air Defense Identification Zone on January 26, 2019.

'Bombers remained in international airspace and did not enter sovereign territory.'

The US Air Force sent planes from their air base in Alaska.

It is the first known Russian flight near North America this year.

In September US Air Force fighter jets twice were forced to intercepted two Russian bombers off the coast of Alaska.

The first interception took place on September 1 when another pair of Russian bombers flew nearby.

Those planes were also intercepted by F-22 fighters after they crossed into the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone south of the Aleutian Islands.

Then two weeks later two more Russian bombers were spotted in the same area.

NORAD Commander General Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy said then: 'The homeland is no longer a sanctuary and the ability to deter and defeat threats to our citizens, vital infrastructure and national institutions starts with successfully detecting, tracking and positively identifying aircraft of interest approaching US and Canadian airspace.'