Russian fighter flies just 10 FEET from US spy plane as Pentagon warns dangerous manoeuvre risks ‘escalating tensions’
The Su-27 Flanker jet came dangerously close to a P-8A Poseidon jet on routine surveillance mission over the Black Sea
A RUSSIAN fighter jet flew within ten feet of a US Navy surveillance plane over the Black Sea today.
The Pentagon warned the risky intercept by an Su-27 Flanker warplane could "escalate tensions and could result in a miscalculation or accident."
Officials said the Russian fighter came dangerously close to a US Navy P-8A Poseidon spy jet conducting routine operations in international air space.
Russian Defence Ministry Spokesman Maj Gen Igor Konashenkov said the Poseidon did not have its transponders turned on as it approached Russia's southern border twice.
He said fighters were deployed to intercept the incoming aircraft and "Russian pilots acted in strict compliance with international flight rules."
But Captain Danny Hernandez, spokesman for US European Command, said the Poseidon had its transponder turned on during the entire flight, following international law for flight safety.
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According to the US, Russian jets conducted four intercepts of US aircraft in the last 24 hours, and the one that was considered unsafe lasted about 19 minutes.
Pentagon spokesman Capt Jeff Davis said: "US Navy aircraft and ships routinely interact with Russian units in the area and most interactions are safe and professional.
"However, we have deep concerns when there is an unsafe manoeuvre like this.
"These actions have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions between countries, and could result in a miscalculation or accident which results in serious injury or death."
It comes amid rising tensions in the region as Ukraine's president warned Russia is gearing up for a "full-scale invasion".
Petro Poroshenko said the EU would be too weak to stop Vladimir Putin if he moved to grab more land after annexing Crimea in 2014.
Pro-Kremlin militia are locked in a bloody civil war with Ukrainian forces in the east of the country.
Russian jets have buzzed other US aircraft and warships in the region.
In one more dramatic incident earlier this year, Russian jets flew within 30 feet of the USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea.
Sabre-rattling Putin has also repeatedly sent bombers to probe UK air defences, forcing the RAF to scramble fighters to intercept them over the North Sea.
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