The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), a joint air defense force operated by the U.S. and Canada, sent fighter pilots to warn off the civilian planes flying overhead.

The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace in Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and did not enter American or Canadian sovereign airspace, NORAD said in a statement.

WASHINGTON — Residents in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia region may notice low-flying aircraft on Tuesday as the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) conducts Exercise FALCON VIRGO ...