A U.S. Navy P-8 surveillance plane was intercepted in an “unprofessional” manner by a Russian Su-27 fighter jet over the Baltic Sea, defense officials told CNN on Tuesday.
The incident, which occurred earlier Tuesday, comes after a similar close encounter between a U.S. military jet and a Russian military aircraft in January.
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“US Navy ships and aircraft routinely interact with military units from other countries,” said a Navy spokesman, who added that the Navy would provide details on any unsafe encounters.
The unnamed defense officials speaking to CNN described the encounter as lasting about nine minutes and added that the jet came within 20 feet of the surveillance aircraft.
The January incident occurred when a Russian jet flew within 5 feet of a U.S. Navy plane over the Black Sea.
“The Russian military is within its right to operate within international airspace, but they must behave within international standards set to ensure safety and prevent incidents, including the 1972 Agreement for the Prevention of Incidents on and Over the High Seas (INCSEA),” said a Navy spokeswoman at the time. “Unsafe actions increase the risk of miscalculation and midair collisions.”