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Two passenger planes carrying hundreds of people were disrupted by Russian bombers which flew through Irish-controlled airspace, it has emerged.
The Irish Aviation Authority confirmed one flight was delayed and another forced to take evasive action from the two Tu-95 bombers on February 18.
The planes flew just 40km off the Irish coast and weaved in and out busy passenger plane traffic lanes.
The bombers were flying with their transponders switched off - making it extremely difficult for airport control towers to locate them.
A statement for from the IAA confirmed the disruption to passenger planes.
It read: "One aircraft's departure from Dublin was delayed due to the activity of the Russian military aircraft in UK controlled airspace.
"The routing of one en route aircraft was changed to ensure that its track was sufficiently separated from the track of the two Russian military aircraft."
PA RAF Typhoon at Akrotiri
Defence: RAF jets were scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft in January
While the aircraft did not enter Irish sovereign airspace, they flew in and out of Irish-controlled zones.
It's believed the same two planes caused the RAF to scramble two fighter jets to escort the aircraft away from British airspace.
In a statement the British Ministry of Defence said: "RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft were launched after Russian aircraft were identified flying close to UK airspace.
"The Russian planes were escorted by the RAF until they were out of the UK area of interest.
"At no time did the Russian military aircraft cross into UK sovereign airspace."
The Irish Aviation Authority confirmed one flight was delayed and another forced to take evasive action from the two Tu-95 bombers on February 18.
The planes flew just 40km off the Irish coast and weaved in and out busy passenger plane traffic lanes.
The bombers were flying with their transponders switched off - making it extremely difficult for airport control towers to locate them.
A statement for from the IAA confirmed the disruption to passenger planes.
It read: "One aircraft's departure from Dublin was delayed due to the activity of the Russian military aircraft in UK controlled airspace.
"The routing of one en route aircraft was changed to ensure that its track was sufficiently separated from the track of the two Russian military aircraft."
PA RAF Typhoon at Akrotiri
Defence: RAF jets were scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft in January
While the aircraft did not enter Irish sovereign airspace, they flew in and out of Irish-controlled zones.
It's believed the same two planes caused the RAF to scramble two fighter jets to escort the aircraft away from British airspace.
In a statement the British Ministry of Defence said: "RAF Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon fighter aircraft were launched after Russian aircraft were identified flying close to UK airspace.
"The Russian planes were escorted by the RAF until they were out of the UK area of interest.
"At no time did the Russian military aircraft cross into UK sovereign airspace."
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