The Swiss defence ministry said a Swiss F/A-18 warplane approached a Russian official jet for "a routine check" Monday after Russia blamed a French plane for what it said was a dangerous manoeuvre.

The check took place over the Swiss city of Bienna at 10:22 a.m., ministry spokesman Peter Minder told AFP, adding: "It was a normal check by the Swiss air force... a close check, we made visual contact with the pilot and noted the registration. Everything was in order. It was a verification, a routine check."