The Russian fighter aircraft approached an American reconnaissance aircraft about six meters away. The incident occurred during the performance by the American intelligence officer of routine tasks in the international airspace over the Black Sea, the American channel NBC.
Approaching such a distance can be considered dangerous, but the channel notes that due to the professionalism of the pilot any risks were avoided.
In September of the previous year, British fighters intercepted two Russian strategic bombers-the Tu-160 missile, approaching the country's airspace. According to the British Ministry of Defense, Russian bombers did not violate the country's airspace.
A few days later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland stated that three Russian strategic bombers, the Tu-160 missile, were close to a dangerous distance with an Iceland passenger plane following from Reykjavik to Stockholm.