Russia Intercepts U.S. Navy Aircraft Rising Tensions
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – Two Russian fighter planes intercepted a U.S. Navy aircraft over the Eastern Mediterranean amid rising military tensions between the two superpowers, footage seen by Worthy News showed.
The U.S. Navy claimed the two Russian Su-35 jets flew in “an unsafe and unprofessional manner” while intercepting a U.S. Navy P-8A maritime patrol aircraft over international waters on Tuesday, May 26.
In a statement, the U.S. Navy’s 6th Fleet said the confrontation lasted around 65 minutes. Photos saw by Worthy News purportedly showed the Russian pilots flying on each wing of the P-8A. The Navy stressed that they restricted the aircraft’s ability to maneuver.
“The unnecessary actions of the Russian Su-35 pilots were inconsistent with good airmanship and international flight rules, and jeopardized the safety of flight of both aircraft,” the Naples, Italy based-fleet added. “Actions like these increase the potential for midair collisions,” it warned.
There was no immediate known comment from Moscow. However, it was the third time in two months that Russian pilots allegedly unsafely intercepted P-8A reconnaissance aircraft over international waters in the Mediterranean.
On April 19, the U.S. Navy said a Su-35 conducted a maneuver that left only 8 meters ( 26 feet) separation in front of the P-8A, exposing the U.S. aircraft to wake turbulence and jet exhaust.
In another interception on April 15, a Su-35 reportedly conducted a high-speed inverted maneuver just meters from the reconnaissance plane.
“In all cases, the U.S. aircraft were operating in international airspace, consistent with international law, with due regard for the safety of flight, and did not provoke this Russian activity,” the U.S. Navy maintained.
The U.S. Navy urged Russia to respect the 1972 Agreement for the Prevention of Incidents On and Over the High Seas (INCSEA). However, the latest military stand-off underscored mounting tensions between Washington and Moscow over arms and sanctions.
U.S. officials have reportedly debated whether to carry out the first American nuclear tests in 28 years as a way to pressure Russia and China into making a trilateral arms control deal. Moscow has also objected to U.S.-backed sanctions over Russia’s military role in Ukraine and Syria.
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