A US Air Force reconnaissance plane was intercepted by a Russian SU-27 jet in an “unsafe and unprofessional” manner while flying a routine route in international airspace over the Baltic Sea, the Pentagon says.
This handout picture taken by Japan's Air Self-Defense Force on Feb 7,
2013 shows a Russian fighter jet SU-27. (AFP/Defense Ministry)
WASHINGTON, DC: A US Air Force reconnaissance plane was
intercepted by a Russian SU-27 jet in an “unsafe and unprofessional
manner” while flying a routine route in international airspace over the
Baltic Sea, the Pentagon said Saturday.
"The US aircraft was operating in international airspace and at no
time crossed into Russian territory," said Laura Seal, a Pentagon
spokeswoman.
The incident comes shortly after Russian aircraft repeatedly
buzzed the USS Donald Cook this past week, including an incident
Tuesday in which a Russian Su-24 flew 9m above the ship in a "simulated
attack profile", according to the US military's European Command.
Russia has denied the action was reckless or provocative.
"This unsafe and unprofessional air intercept has the
potential to cause serious harm and injury to all aircrews involved,"
Seal said of Thursday's incident.
"More importantly, the unsafe and unprofessional actions of a single
pilot have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions between
countries."
The US aircraft in question was an RC-135.
- CNA/cy
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