Story highlights Russian bombers disrupted civil aviation, UK Foreign Office representative says

UK: Russian bombers were flying over English Channel

Russian aircraft didn't cross into British airspace, spokesman says

(CNN) Russia's ambassador to Britain was summoned to the UK's Foreign Office on Thursday to explain why two Russian bombers were flying over the English Channel this week, a representative of the office said.

Two Russian bombers "caused disruption to civil aviation" when they flew near, but did not cross into, British airspace on Wednesday, the Foreign Office representative said.

Two UK Royal Air Force jets intercepted the bombers, both capable of carrying nuclear weapons, south of Bournemouth, England, over the English Channel, a UK defense spokesman said Thursday.

The British jets escorted the bombers for about an hour-and-a-half until the bombers left the area, the defense spokesman said.

"Russian aircraft maneuvers yesterday are part of (an) increasing pattern of out-of-area operations by Russian aircraft," the Foreign Office representative said.

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