Russia flying dangerously close to Navy jets in Mediterranean, U.S. military

Russian pilots on Sunday flew dangerously close while intercepting a Navy jet in the Mediterranean, the second such incident in four days, according to the U.S. military.  

The Navy jet was a Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft in the U.S. Sixth Fleet flying in international airspace over the Mediterranean Sea.

Navy officials say that the Russian SU-35 on Sunday, in fact, intercepted the Navy jet twice in less than two minutes – the first without concern but the second deemed by Navy officials “unsafe and unprofessional.” 

Officials say the Russian jet conducted a “high-speed, high-powered maneuver” roughly 25 feet in front of the Navy aircraft – leaving a wake of turbulence and exhaust. 

Officials said the Navy jet descended to avoid a potential accident and was following international law,  In both cases in the past few days, U.S. aircraft were operating consistent with the law, Navy officials said.