Chinese Fighter Forces U.S. Plane to Take Evasive Maneuvers J-10 jet fighter came within 300 feet of Navy reconnaissance plane over East China Sea By Dion Nissenbaum
https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinese-fighter-forces-u-s-plane-to-take-evasive-maneuvers-1500918996?mod=nwsrl_middle_east_news
WASHINGTON—A U.S. Navy reconnaissance plane was forced to take evasive action to avoid a possible mid-air collision after a Chinese jet fighter came within 300 feet of the American aircraft over the East China Sea, U.S. officials said Monday.
Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said a Chinese J-10 jet fighter rapidly approached under the U.S. EP-3 reconnaissance plane, slowed down and then flew in front of the American pilot, triggering the plane’s collision alarm system and forcing it to take evasive action.
The Chinese plane came within 300 feet of the U.S. plane, which was flying in international airspace, according to another defense official.
Capt. Davis said the incident was “uncharacteristic” of the Chinese military, calling it an exception, not the rule, for interactions between pilots in the area.
The incident is the latest in series of incidents between the U.S. and Chinese militaries as tensions rise on the Korean Peninsula.
In May, Chinese planes were involved in two similar incidents criticized by the Pentagon.
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