Wednesday, September 07, 2016

Russian SU-27 Jet Intercepts US Navy Spy Plane Over Black Sea

Russian Air Force SU-27 Fighter
A Russian fighter jet carried out an intercept of US spy plane flying over the Black Sea, according to US Defense officials, cited by the Reuters news agency. 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.
According to radio monitor sources the plane intercepted by the Russians over the Black Sea was a US Navy P-8A Poseidon.

US Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft (US Navy image)