A Russian fighter jet conducted an “unsafe” and “irresponsible” pass in front of a U.S. Navy surveillance plane over the Black Sea on Monday, according to the Navy.
The Russian Su-27 conducted a high-speed pass in front of the Navy EP-3E Aries plane while it was flying in international airspace, “putting at risk the pilots and crew,” a Navy statement said.
“The intercepting Su-27 made an additional pass, closing with the EP-3 and applying its afterburner while conducting a banking turn away,” the statement said. “The crew of the EP-3 reported turbulence following the first interaction, and vibrations from the second. The duration of the intercept was approximately 25 minutes.”
The statement noted that while the Russians have right to fly in international airspace, this interaction was “irresponsible.”
“We expect them to behave within international standards set to ensure safety and to prevent incidents, including the 1972 Agreement for the Prevention of Incidents On and Over the High Seas,” the Navy said. “Unsafe actions increase the risk of miscalculation and potential for midair collisions.”
The Navy noted that the EP-3 did not provoke the Russian plane.
