CNN: Russian fighter came within 15 feet of U.S. Air Force jet
(CNN)A Russian fighter jet came within 15 feet of a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance plane over the Black Sea this week in what the Pentagon is calling an "unsafe" incident, U.S. officials say.
"On January 25, 2016, a U.S. RC-135U flying a routine route in international airspace over the Black Sea was intercepted by a Russian Su-27 in an unsafe and unprofessional manner. We are looking into this particular incident," said a statement from Army Lt. Col. Michelle L. Baldanza, a Defense Department spokesperson.
Another U.S. military official told CNN that the Russian jet flew along the right side the U.S. plane then turned away in a maneuver that had an adverse impact on the "controllability of the U.S. aircraft." The official did not know if the Russian aircraft was armed at the time. The official said the incident occurred more than 40 miles from the Russian coast.
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WNU Editor: 15 feet .... if this report is true .... it is definitely a close and dangerous intercept. The Russian reaction to these reports has been this .... Russian fighter jet intercepts US recon aircraft over Black Sea ‘in unsafe manner’– Navy (RT). And this is why they are not happy ....
.... Russian defense officials have reported a drastic increase in US surveillance flights near Russia’s borders since 2014. “US RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft carry out flights almost daily,” Colonel General Viktor Bondarev, commander-in-chief of the Russian Air Space Forces said in late 2014, adding that “in 2014, more than 140 RC-135 flights have taken place compared to 22 flights in 2013.”
My gut is telling me that this Russian pilot was ordered to scare the beejeesus out of this US Air Force crew .... and that order came from the top.
More News On Reports That A Russian Fighter Jet Flew Closer To A U.S. Air Force Spy Plane Than Originally Reported
Pentagon: Russian jet flew too close to U.S. Air Force spy plane -- Air Force Times
Russian jet flies within 15 feet of US spy plane -- The Hill
Russian Fighter Jet Came Within 15 Feet of US Air Force Plane, US Officials Say -- ABC News
Russian Su-27 Jet Fighter Intercepts US Spy Plane Over Black Sea In Close Call Encounter -- IBTimes
Russian Su-27 buzzes U.S. RC-135U spyplane. Once again. -- The Aviationist
2 comments:
WNU Editor,
You are forgetting "fighter jock" hubris, an SU-27 vs a RC-135?
That's lite sitting at an intersection in a Ferrari, and having some guy pull up next to you, in an F-350 van, and rev his engine.
Way too much testosterone all round.
Hypothetically speaking I am sure the family members would feel better, if their loved ones died plane crash due jet wash rather than a missile hitting their plane.
Because dead is not dead.
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