One plane was diverted and another delayed to avoid two Russian bombers that flew through Irish-controlled air space without warning in February, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said. The disruption is believed to have occurred during the same February 18 incident in which British RAF Typhoon fighters were scrambled to escort two Russian bear bombers identified flying close to British airspace. The move was seen as a show of strength by Russia amid tensions over the conflict in Ukraine, where Prime Minister David Cameron has accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of challenging the territorial integrity of Kiev. A file picture showing a Russian bear bomber being escorted by an RAF jet. A commercial plane carrying hundreds of passengers was forced to divert after an incursion into Irish air space by two Kremlin aircraftOne civilian jet changed course and another delayed take off from DublinDisruption occurred on day RAF jets intercepted bear bombers last monthRussian aircraft were flying with transponders switched off to avoid radarsIncident latest in a long line of breaches of UK territory by Kremlin forces
However, the _ sad there had been 'no safety impact to civilian traffic in Irish controlled airspace'.