A Russian warplane flew within 30 feet of a U.S. Navy destroyer in the Baltic Sea Tuesday, according to a defense official.
The Russian warplanes were conducting “simulated attacks” on the vessel, Military Times reported. Russian aircraft had already engaged in several aggressive moves on Monday.
Sailors aboard the USS Donald Cook said the Russian aircraft flew low enough to create a wake in the waters surrounding their ship. The ship’s commanding officer said the incident was “unsafe and unprofessional.”
“This was more aggressive than anything we’ve seen in some time,” the anonymous defense official said. U.S. officials have not officially disclosed the incidents.
The Sukhoi Su-24 was described by U.S. sailors as “wings clean” — meaning no visible bombs or armaments were on the aircraft.
After a Russian helicopter made seven overflights and appeared to be taking photographs of the Navy ship Tuesday, the Su-24 began making “very low” overflights with a “simulated attack profile,” the defense official said. The aircraft made a total of 11 flights.
Radio contact with the Russian aircraft was unsuccessful, the defense official added.
According to the State Department’s website, a 1973 treaty between the U.S. and the Soviet Union was meant to prevent incidents at sea, specifically prohibiting “simulated attacks.” The defense official said after a formal investigation into the incident, the U.S. government my lodge a a formal complaint with Moscow.
The flight comes two years to the day from another encounter between an Su-24 and the Donald Cook. On April 12, 2014, the plane flew within 1,000 yards of the ship and made 12 passes while the destroyer was in the Black Sea.
