Russian planes that enter UK airspace could be detained by government

An air traffic control radar screen. The new measures give air traffic controllers power to ‘issue directions to a pilot or operator of a Russian aircraft not to enter UK airspace’. Photograph: Karen Fuller/Alamy

Russian planes that stray into British airspace could be detained by the British government, the transport secretary announced on Tuesday.

Grant Shapps said he had made it a criminal offence for any Russian aircraft to enter UK airspace, as the government scrambles to sanction Russia for its brutal war on Ukraine.