The United States has lodged a protest after a Russian fighter jet came within 5 feet (1.5 meters) of a US Navy reconnaissance plane over the Black Sea.
Following the incident on Monday, the US called upon Russia to “cease” these unsafe action and “behave within international standards set to ensure safety”. Russia, however, dismissed the allegation and said that all safety precautions were observed during the interception.
The incident unfolded while the US EP-3 Aries spy plane was on a mission in international airspace. It was intercepted by a Russian Su-27, which flanked the US aircraft for a total of two hours and 40 minutes, according to a statement released by the US Navy.