Seven Miles Up, Joint Forces Simulate a Hijacking

Two U.S.-built NORAD F-22 fighter jets fly alongside a civilian airplane playing the role of a hijacked airliner on a route from Alaska to an undisclosed location in the Far East. Later in the flight, Russian fighter jets also intercepted the flight as it passed through Russian airspace. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Russian Air Force Col. Alexander Vasiliev, right, talks with Canadian Forces Col. Todd Balfe, center, deputy commander of the Alaskan NORAD region, as U.S. Air Force interpreter Tech. Sgt. Paul Shoop, translates at left, as they fly aboard a civilian airplane playing the role of a hijacked airline. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

A Russian Su-27 fighter jet flies alongside a civilian airplane playing the role of a hijacked airliner on a route from Alaska to an undisclosed location in the Far East. The exercise is a first-of-its-kind joint exercise between the U.S. and Russia to test their coordinated response to a potential international hijacking. Earlier in the flight, U.S.-built NORAD fighter jets also intercepted the flight as it passed through U.S. airspace. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

U.S. Air Force interpreter Tech. Sgt. Paul Shoop, left, works on his computer, as Russian Air Force Col. Alexander Vasiliev, sits across the aisle at right, as they fly aboard a civilian airplane playing the role of a hijacked airliner.  (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Two U.S.-built NORAD F-22 fighter jets fly alongside a civilian airplane playing the role of a hijacked airliner, on a route from Alaska to an undisclosed location in the Far East. The exercise is a first-of-its-kind joint exercise between the U.S. and Russia to test their coordinated response to a potential international hijacking. Later in the flight, Russian fighter jets also intercepted the flight as it passed through Russian airspace. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Two U.S.-built NORAD F-22 fighter jets fly alongside a civilian airplane playing the role of a hijacked airliner. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

A Russian Su-27 fighter jet flies alongside a civilian airplane playing the role of a hijacked airliner,. The exercise is a first-of-its-kind joint exercise between the U.S. and Russia to test their coordinated response to a potential international hijacking. Earlier in the flight, U.S.-built NORAD fighter jets also intercepted the flight as it passed through U.S. airspace. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Two Russian Su-27 fighter jets fly alongside a civilian airplane playing the role of a hijacked airline. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Canadian Forces Col. Todd Balfe, deputy commander of the Alaskan NORAD region, takes a personal photo as he looks out the window of a civilian airplane playing the role of a hijacked airliner as it is escorted by two Su-27 Russian fighter jets in Russian airspace on a route from Alaska to an undisclosed location in the Far East.  (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)