Pentagon: Russian fighter came within 100 feet of US reconnaissance plane over Pacific

WASHINGTON – The Pentagon says a Russian fighter jet intercepted an American reconnaissance plane in international airspace over the Pacific in late April, prompting top officials to communicate their concerns to the Russian military.

A Pentagon spokesman, Army Col. Steve Warren, said Tuesday the Russian Su-27 fighter flew across the nose of the U.S. Air Force RC-135U aircraft, coming within about 100 feet, while in international airspace over the Sea of Okhotsk.

Warren said the U.S. plane did not take any evasive measures. He said Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, both raised the matter with their Russian counterparts.

Warren said he did not know why the Pentagon did not make the incident public earlier.