Russian jet buzzes US Air Force spy plane
Defense Department calls actions unsafe and unprofessional
A Russian jet sped closely by a U.S. Air Force spy plane "in an unsafe and unprofessional manner" over the Black Sea on Monday, a Defense Department spokeswoman told Fox News.
The Pentagon is investigating the incident which took place in international airspace, Lt. Col. Michelle L. Baldanza added. She said the Russian aircraft was an Su-27 fighter jet.
The Pentagon held a video conference Thursday with Russian military officials to discuss flight safety over Syria "to avoid accidents and unintended confrontation between coalition and Russian forces whenever the two sides operate in close proximity," according to Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook. There was no mention of the "unprofessional" intercept in his statement.
"No specific incident or event prompted today's discussion," Baldanza said.
This is just the latest report of Russian jets buzzing U.S. aircraft in that same region. U.S. officials told Fox News Russian fighter jets intercepted American predator drones at least three times in the first week of Moscow's air campaign over Syria last fall.
Russia claimed its airstrikes targeted Islamic terrorists, but human rights groups said some of the victims were Syrian anti-government rebels with no links to terror.
Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.
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