Russian jet flies within 5 feet of U.S. Navy plane over Black Sea
- 6 years ago
BLACK SEA — A Russian jet unsafely intercepted a U.S. Navy plane, the latest in a series of close calls between the two countries over the Black Sea.
According to a press release from the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, a U.S. EP-3 plane was conducting a reconnaissance mission in international airspace over the Black Sea on Monday when it encountered a Russian aircraft.
The Russian military reportedly detected an unidentified aircraft approaching their airspace, and sent a Sukhoi SU-27 fighter jet to intercept it.
The SU-27 came within five feet of the U.S. plane, crossing directly in front and causing it to fly through a trail of turbulent air.
The intercept lasted a total of 2 hours and 40 minutes.
According to the Pentagon, the EP-3 did not do anything to provoke the Russians, and that such actions increase the risk of miscalculation and mid-air collisions.
But Russia's Defense Ministry denies any wrongdoing, claiming its jet flew in accordance with international law when it intercepted the U.S. plane, reports CNN.
According to a press release from the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, a U.S. EP-3 plane was conducting a reconnaissance mission in international airspace over the Black Sea on Monday when it encountered a Russian aircraft.
The Russian military reportedly detected an unidentified aircraft approaching their airspace, and sent a Sukhoi SU-27 fighter jet to intercept it.
The SU-27 came within five feet of the U.S. plane, crossing directly in front and causing it to fly through a trail of turbulent air.
The intercept lasted a total of 2 hours and 40 minutes.
According to the Pentagon, the EP-3 did not do anything to provoke the Russians, and that such actions increase the risk of miscalculation and mid-air collisions.
But Russia's Defense Ministry denies any wrongdoing, claiming its jet flew in accordance with international law when it intercepted the U.S. plane, reports CNN.