3 weeks ago
Calling it an "unsafe maneuver", the US military shared a video showing a Russian fighter jet whizzing past its F-16 fighter jet near Alaska during an intercept last week.
North American Aerospace Defence Command, known as NORAD, said in September that it detected four Russian military aircraft operating in the Alaska Air Defence Identification Zone.
An official said that the American jet was flying in a "safe and disciplined" routine to intercept the Russian aircraft. NORAD said that Russian activity "occurs regularly and is not seen as a threat." However, the movement of one of the Russian jets was called "unsafe" and "unprofessional".
"On Sept 23, 2024, NORAD aircraft flew a safe and disciplined intercept of Russian Military Aircraft in the Alaska ADIZ. The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all - not what you'd see in a professional air force," said Air Force General Gregory Guillot and shared a video of the incident.
The video shows the Russian jet flying dangerously close to the US jet and turning at a great speed, causing it to alter its movement.
While reacting to the incident, US Senator Dan Sullivan, said that the Russian jet put the lives of American airmen at risk.
"The reckless and unprofessional maneuvers of Russian fighter pilots - within just a few feet of our Alaska-based fighters - in Alaska's ADIZ on September 23 put the lives of our brave Airmen at risk and underscore the escalating aggression we're witnessing from dictators like Vladimir Putin," Sullivan said in a statement.
Published By:
Nakul Ahuja
Published On:
Oct 1, 2024
