Russia intercepts US military plane multiple times over international waters
 

Russia intercepts US military plane multiple times over international waters
By: Mike Ciandella - The Blaze - 6-5-19
RE: https://www.theblaze.com/news/russia...ational-waters

A Russian military plane intercepted a U.S. military aircraft multiple times Tuesday over international waters.

Here's what we know
In a statement, the U.S. 6th Fleet said:

On June 4, 2019, a U.S. P-8A Poseidon aircraft flying in international airspace over the Mediterranean Sea was intercepted by a Russian SU-35 three times over the course of 175 minutes.
The P-8A Poseidon is the military's version of the Boeing 737.

While the 6th Fleet said that "the first and third interaction were determined to be safe," it said that the "second interaction was determined to be unsafe due to the SU-35 conducting a high speed pass directly in front of the mission aircraft, which put our pilots and crew at risk."

This interception was not in violation of international treaties, but was considered to be "irresponsible." Interactions like these "‎increase the risk of miscalculation and potential for midair collisions." The 6th Fleet said that the U.S. aircraft "did not provoke this Russian activity."

Haven't we heard this story before?
This type of reckless aerial interaction between U.S. and Russian fighter jets is becoming all too common.

In May 2018, a Russian SU-37 jet flew within 20 feet of a U.S. Navy plane over the Baltic sea. Then, in November, a Russian SU-27 intercepted another U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance plane. Both of these interceptions were also over international airspace and were criticized by the Navy as being "unprofessional" and "irresponsible."

And just two weeks ago, the U.S. intercepted six Russian planes (four Tupolev Tu-95 bombers and two Su-35 fighters) that had left international airspace and entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone. In September 2018, there were two additional incidents with Russian military planes flying close to Alaska.

Russia intercepts U.S. military plane over Mediterranean with dangerous 'high-speed p
 

Russia intercepts U.S. military plane over Mediterranean with dangerous 'high-speed pass'
By: Ben Wolfgang - Washington Times - 6-5-19
RE: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news...ver-mediterra/

A Russian aircraft intercepted a U.S. plane three times within about three hours on Tuesday, military officials said, including an unprovoked and dangerous “high-speed pass” that endangered the lives of the American crew.

The Navy’s 6th Fleet said the Russian SU-35 intercepted the U.S. P-8A Poseidon in international airspace over the Mediterranean Sea.

“The second interaction was determined to be unsafe due to the SU-35 conducting a high speed pass directly in front of the mission aircraft, which put our pilots and crew at risk. The crew of the P-8A reported wake turbulence following the second interaction,” the 6th Fleet said in a statement condemning the incident. “While the Russian aircraft was operating in international airspace, this interaction was irresponsible. … Unsafe actions‎ increase the risk of miscalculation and potential for midair collisions.”

The statement added that the U.S. aircraft was “operating consistent with international law and did not provoke this Russian activity.”

The incident comes after last month’s U.S. intercept of Russian aircraft flying off the coast of Alaska and adds to already simmering tensions between the two sides.

Russian officials said their planes responded accordingly after it appeared the U.S. plane was moving toward Russian naval facilities.

“Russian systems of control of the airspace of the Hmeymim air base in Syria detected an air target [later identified as P-8A Poseidon] above the neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea that was moving forward to the basing point of the Russian naval facility in Tartus,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. “After the US aircraft changed its trajectory, the Russian fighter returned to the air base.”