Chinese fighter jet harassed U.S. Air Force spy plane over South China Sea
CBS News A Chinese fighter jet performed an "unnecessarily aggressive maneuver" in an intercept of a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft last week, according to a U.S. Indo-Pacific Command statement.
The pilot of a Chinese J-16 fighter flew directly in front of — and within 400 feet of the nose of the RC-135 — forcing the U.S. aircraft to fly through its wake turbulence. The intercept occurred while the reconnaissance plane was operating in international air space over the South China Sea on May 26.
"The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate – safely and responsibly – wherever international law allows," the statement said. "We expect all countries in the Indo-Pacific region to use international airspace safely and in accordance with international law."
