Russian SU-27 intercepted a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft in international waters in the Baltic Sea Friday morning, according to a senior defense official.
The aircraft flew along the U.S. aircraft and then did a 'barrel roll' over the top of the aircraft, closing within 100 feet of the RC-135 plane, the official said, who was not authorized to speak publicly on the incident.
The United States has expressed concerns of these dangerous maneuvers because they can lead to mishaps or lead to heightened escalations between the two forces.
"This unsafe and unprofessional air intercept has the potential to cause serious harm and injury to all aircrews involved," Navy Cmdr. Bill Urban, who is a Department of Defense spokesman, said in a statement, according to Reuters. "More importantly, the unsafe and unprofessional actions of a single pilot have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions between countries."
This is the latest in a series of close encounters with Russian aircraft operating in that area.
Earlier this month, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said such incidents were a concern.
"This incident, as you won't be surprised to hear, is entirely inconsistent with the professional norms of militaries operating in proximity to each other in international waters and international airspace," Earnest said. "Any peacetime military activity must be consistent with international law and norms and conducted with due regard for the rights of other nations and the safety of other aircraft and other vessels."
Earnest said there have been "repeated incidents over the last year" where the Russian military "have come close enough to each other, or have come close enough to other air and sea traffic to raise serious safety concerns. And we continue to be concerned about this behavior."
