US accuses Russian aircraft of another dangerous maneuver over the Baltic Sea
The US military has accused Russian aircraft of yet another dangerous maneuver over the Baltic Sea, Radio Svoboda reported.
US Navy Captain Danny Hernandez, a spokesman for the US European Command, said that the incident took place on April 14th when a Russian Su-27 fighter jet "performed erratic and aggressive maneuvers" dangerously close to a US RC-135 reconnaissance plane during a routine flight in international airspace.
He added the Russian Su-27 barrel-rolled near the RC-135, coming within an estimated 16 meters of the US plane.
The Russian Defense Ministry denies the allegations that the Su-27 performed dangerous maneuvers.
"The information to foreign media reports on the alleged dangerous approaching April 14 Russian Su-27 to the American reconnaissance plane RC-135 in the skies over the Baltic Sea does not correspond to reality,” Russian Ministry of Defense representative Igor Konashenkov stated, RBC reported.
He noted that the Su-27 approached the RC-135 from a distance, and after making visual contact with the Russian fighter, the US reconnaissance plane changed course.
The incident came several days after Russian Su-24 aircraft buzzed the USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea. The Russian jets made 11 passes over the US naval destroyer, coming within 10 meters.