Russian SU-27 jet intercepts US spy plane flying over Black Sea: Update

Sputnik
Wed, 07 Sep 2016 18:56 UTC

© Sputnik/ Igor Zarembo

A Russian fighter jet intercepted a US spy plane flying over the Black Sea, according to US Defense officials cited by the Reuters news agency. The officials said that there were multiple interactions between two aircraft and called the intercept by the Russian jet "unsafe and unprofessional."

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the incident lasted about 19 minutes and the Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter came within 10 feet of the US Navy P-8 surveillance plane.

Officials are now reviewing the incident with the pilot to determine whether it should be included in the annual meeting of US and Russian officials about more serious intercepts, the official added.

Comment: The Russian Ministry of Defense has commented on the event:

"On September 7, 2016, US Navy P8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft made two attempts to approach the Russian airspace over the Black Sea while flying with switched-off transponders. Su-27 fighter jets were scrambled from the Belbek airbase [in Crimea]," ministry's spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said in a statement.

The MoD added that the pilots performed in strict adherence to international flight regulations. While the Americans whine about having their spy missions stopped in its tracks, the Russians are clearly keeping an eye on everything happening near their border and making sure the Americans know they are watching.

Update:

The Russian Defense Ministry said that after the Russian jets approached the US spy planes close enough to visually identify them, the American aircraft sharply changed direction and flew away from the border. The ministry added that it was just the latest attempt by US aircraft to approach the Russian border close to the region where the massive Caucasus-2016 drills are being held.

The ministry stressed that there is no need for such actions, as it already officially invited military attaches from 60 countries, including NATO members, as well as more than 100 foreign journalists, to attend the final stage of the drills.