The Navy has released three photos of Russian Su-24 aircraft flying close to the destroyer USS Porter in the Black Sea, which occurred last Friday.
A U.S. official said the planes, which also included an IL-38 patrol aircraft, flew within 200 yards of the destroyer at an altitude of 300 feet, Reuters reported.
(Photos: U.S. Navy)
“USS Porter queried all aircraft and received no response,” said Navy Capt. Danny Hernandez, a spokesman for U.S. European Command. “Such incidents are concerning because they can result in accident or miscalculation,” he added.
The Russian Defense Ministry denied the flights took place. “There were no incidents related to a flyby of Russian military aircraft near the USS Porter destroyer in the Black Sea on February 10,” Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement, according to Russia Today.
