WASHINGTON: Multiple Russian militaryaircraft came close to a U.S.Navy destroyer in the Black Sea onFeb.10, incidents considered "unsafe and unprofessional," a
U.S.official said on Tuesday.
There were three separate incidents involving Russianaircraft and the USS Porter, Captain Danny Hernandez, aspokesman for U.S.European Command, said.
One involved twoRussian Su-24 jets, another a separate Su-24, and the thirdinvolved a larger IL-38."USS Porter queried all aircraft and received no response,"
Hernandez said.
"Such incidents are concerning because they can result inaccident or miscalculation," he added.The incidents involving the Su-24 were considered to beunsafe and unprofessional by the commanding officer of thePorter because of their high speed and low altitude, while theIL-38 flew at an unusually low altitude, Hernandez said.
Another U.S.official, speaking on condition of anonymity,said the closest incident that day involved the lone SU-24,which came within 200 yards of the Porter at an altitude of 300feet (91 meters).
This is not the first time interactions have taken placebetween Russian jets and U.S.ships.In April 2016 two Russian warplanes flew simulated attackpasses near a U.
S.guided missile destroyer in the Baltic Sea.
The flights by the warplanes were so close they created wake inthe water.