Russian Mig-31 intercepted US reconnaissance plane near Kamchatka
A Pentagon spokesman reported that a MiG-31 accompanied the antisubmarine Pi-8 aircraft, Poseidon, at times as closely as 15 meters away, as reported by the Washington Free Beacon.
As an official representative of the U.S. Pacific Command, Cmdr. Dave Benham reported, the Pi-8 aircraft performed its planned task in international airspace. He stated that the interception was "safe and professional." Interceptions between the US planes and military aircraft from other countries occur often and in most cases are professional, Benham emphasized. The US takes necessary steps through military and diplomatic channels concerning interceptions that are considered non-professional.
The Pentagon spokesman stated that the MiG-31 accompanied the patrol antisubmarine Pi-8 Poseidon at a 15 meter distance for some time. The incident took place near Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, where the Russian Navy’s nuclear submarine base is located. This is the third incident of interceptions by Russian aircraft of American aircraft and ships this month.