A Russian jet flew dangerously close to a US surveillance aircraft in Syria, potentially endangering the lives of 4 American pilots on board. The US military said the encounter could have resulted in a crash, but the pilots somehow managed the confrontation. This is not the first time a Russian jet has harassed a US aircraft, previously it flew close to a MQ-9 drone over Syria.
MC-12 Was Spying On ISIS
The US surveillance aircraft MC-12W ws on its mission to gather information on ISIS in Syria, military officials said. Military officials who spoke to the Associated Press mentioned that the Russian Su-35 fighter jet temporarily restricted the ability of the US aircraft pilots to control the twin-engine turboprop aircraft.
Previous Encounters
Russian jets have harassed US military aircrafts for more than once in the recent past, mostly over Syria. In March, a Russian jet intercepted a US drone flying over the black sea and forced it to land. In May again, three Russian fighter jets released multiple parachute flares over three U.S. MQ-9 drones over Syria.