Russian Fighter Buzzes U.S. Surveillance Plane Encounter comes amid growing tension between two powers By Paul Sonne
http://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-fighter-buzzes-u-s-surveillance-plane-1473290303
A Russian jet fighter conducted what the Pentagon described as an “unsafe,” close-range intercept of a U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft in international airspace over the Black Sea Wednesday, at one point closing to within 10 feet, U.S. officials said.
The maneuver came amid growing Washington-Moscow tensions over talks in Syria, a cease-fire in Ukraine and mountingU.S. concern that Russian hackers are targeting U.S. electoral systems.
Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said the intercept lasted about 19 minutes and described it as a potentially dangerous maneuver.
“These actions have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions, and could result in a miscalculation or accident,” Capt. Davis said.
A U.S. defense official said the Russian Su-27 maintained a 30-foot distance from the U.S. P-8A Poseidon aircraft before closing to within 10 feet, a perilously close brush.
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