At 11:55 local time, the E-2 detected two Libyan MiG-23 Floggers taking off from Bomba (Al Bumbah) airfield, near Tobruk, and observed them heading north toward the battle group. The F-14s from VF-32 were directed to intercept the MiG-23s, while the F-14s from VF-14 covered the A-6s as they departed to the north. Using their onboard radars, the intercepting F-14s began tracking the MiG-23s when the Libyan aircraft were away, at an altitude of , and traveling at a speed of . Unlike some previous aerial encounters, where Libyan pilots were instructed to turn back after detecting an F-14's radar signal sweep their aircraft, the MiG-23s continued to close in on the American fighters with a head-on approach.