- Interactions like this can lead to miscalculations and mistakes that lead to more dangerous results, US Navy Captain says.
- He says the United States has expressed our concerns to Russian officials through diplomatic channels.
- According to a US official, one of the Russian planes came dangerously close to an American plane.
Washington: Three US Navy planes were intercepted “unprofessionally” by Russian planes over the Mediterranean last weekend, the Pentagon said Wednesday.
“While no one was injured, such interactions can lead to miscalculations and errors leading to more dangerous outcomes,” US Navy Captain Mike Kafka said in a statement.
The three P-8A maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft “encountered unprofessional interceptions by Russian aircraft” while “flying in international airspace over the Mediterranean,” Kafka said.
He said the United States has “expressed our concerns to Russian officials through diplomatic channels.
“The US will continue to operate safely, professionally and in accordance with international law in international waters and airspace,” Kafka said. “We expect Russia to do the same.”
According to a US official who wished to remain anonymous, one of the Russian planes came perilously close to an American plane.
The incidents come amid heightened tensions over Russia’s massive build-up of armed forces along its border with Ukraine.
Russia’s deployment of troops, missiles and warships around Ukraine has been described as Europe’s worst security crisis since the Cold War.