Russian fighter jet flies dangerously close to intercept a US Navy aircraft in shocking video - as Russia denies fault

  • A Russian SU-27 intercepted an American US EP-3 Monday over the Black Sea 
  • The jet passed twice and activated its afterburners, creating more turbulence 
  • The Pentagon deemed the move 'unsafe' and said US pilots and crew were at risk
  • The Russian Embassy in the US said it 'followed all necessary safety procedures'
  • A Russian aircraft also came within five feet of a US military plane in January  

By Kayla Brantley For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

A Russian fighter jet has intercepted a US military plane by flying dangerously close in international airspace over the Black Sea.

Footage shows the Russian SU-27 making a high-speed pass at a 'very, very close' distance to the American US EP-3 on Monday - a move that The Pentagon deemed 'unsafe' and put the American pilots and crew at risk.

Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said the jet flew in front of plane then activated its afterburners creating more turbulence, and then matrulyde a second pass by the US aircraft.

However, the Russian Embassy in the US claimed Monday that their jet was simply 'accompanying' the American 'spy plane' in order to prevent a 'violation of Russian airspace.'

The Embassy added that the aircraft 'followed all necessary safety procedures.' 

Video shows the Russian SU-27 that intercepted an American US EP-3 Monday over the Black Sea

Video shows the Russian SU-27 that intercepted an American US EP-3 Monday over the Black Sea

The Russian Embassy in the US said their aircraft 'followed all necessary safety procedures'

The Russian Embassy in the US said their aircraft 'followed all necessary safety procedures'

Pahon said there was no communication between the two aircraft throughout the 25-minute incident.  

A reconnaissance in a EP-3E (similar to the one pictured) felt vibrations from the Russian plane 

A reconnaissance in a EP-3E (similar to the one pictured) felt vibrations from the Russian plane 

The U.S. EP-3 Aries came out of Souda Bay, Greece, and was conducting routine operations.

'This interaction was determined to be unsafe due to the SU-27 conducting a high speed pass directly in front of the mission aircraft, which put our pilots and crew at risk,' the US Navy said in a statement. 'The intercepting SU-27 made an additional pass, closing with the EP-3 and applying its afterburner while conducting a banking turn away. 

'The crew of the EP-3 reported turbulence following the first interaction, and vibrations from the second.'

It is still unclear at exactly what distance the Russian jet came to the US reconnaissance. 

The Russian Embassy in the US posted a brief statement on Twitter Monday denying any fault.

'The Su-27 jet's crew reported identifying the #US EP-3 Aries spy plane and accompanied it, preventing a violation of Russian airspace and followed all necessary safety procedures,' the tweet said.  

This is not an isolated incident.  

The last time a US military aircraft was intercepted by a Russian jet came in January when the plane flew within just five feet of a US Navy EP over the Black Sea. 

The Pentagon deemed the move 'unsafe' and said US pilots and crew were at risk

The Pentagon deemed the move 'unsafe' and said US pilots and crew were at risk

At the time, The US State Department accused the Russians of 'flagrantly violating existing agreements and international law.' 

The Black Sea borders Ukraine, Russian-occupied Crimea and Russia in addition to Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Georgia.

The area has a high concentration of Russian, US and NATO military forces. 

In November 2017, a similar incident occurred over the Black Sea when a Russian SU-30 crossed in front of a US P-8A Poseidon.

And in Syria in December, US F-22s fired warning flares at two Russian SU-25 planes that, according to US officials, crossed the country's de-confliction line. Russian authorities denied their planes had crossed the line.

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