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Pentagon: Russian Jet Makes 'Unsafe' Intercept of US Plane

by Carla Babb

   PENTAGON --

   A Russian jet made an "unsafe" intercept of an American reconnaissance
   plane flying in international airspace over the Black Sea Monday,
   Pentagon officials said.

   The Russian SU-27 jet failed to establish radio contact and made two
   "really close" passes before engaging afterburners that shook the
   entire American EP-3 Aries, Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon told
   reporters.

   "There's just absolutely no reason for this type of behavior," he said.

   The American plane was conducting a routine mission in international
   airspace when the Russian plane "came out of nowhere," Pahon added.

   In a press release, the U.S. Navy said the actions were "irresponsible"
   and put the pilots and crew "at risk."
   "We expect them [Russian pilots] to behave within international
   standards set to ensure safety and to prevent incidents," the Navy
   added.

   The Russian embassy in Washington tweeted that the Russian crew was
   "preventing a violation of Russian airspace and followed all necessary
   safety procedures."

   The last time a Russian military aircraft performed an unsafe intercept
   over the Black Sea was in January, when another SU-27 jet came within
   two meters of a U.S. Navy surveillance plane.

   Carla is VOA's Pentagon correspondent covering defense and
   international security issues. Her datelines include Ukraine, Turkey,
   Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Korea.