Video footage released by U.S. military officials captures a near-miss between a Russian fighter jet and a U.S. Air Force F-16 off the coast of Alaska. The incident, which occurred on September 23, showcases the Russian jet swooping perilously close to the American aircraft, prompting condemnation from NORAD officials.
Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, criticized the Russian pilot’s actions as “unsafe and unprofessional,” while highlighting the disciplined response of the U.S. forces.
“The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all – not what you’d see in a professional air force,” said Guillot. The NORAD aircraft flew “a safe and disciplined” routine to intercept the Russian aircraft, he added.
This close encounter follows a series of Russian incursions into the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, coinciding with increased military activity in the region, including joint exercises with China.
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Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committe, emphasized the urgent need to bolster U.S. military presence in Alaska, stating that such reckless maneuvers jeopardize the safety of American pilots and reflect escalating aggression from Russia.
“The reckless and unprofessional maneuvers of Russian fighter pilots — within just a few feet of our Alaska-based fighters — in Alaska’s ADIZ on September 23 put the lives of our brave Airmen at risk and underscore the escalating aggression we’re witnessing from dictators like Vladimir Putin,” Sullivan said in a statement.
The Pentagon continues to monitor the situation, underscoring the growing geopolitical stakes in the Arctic.
Watch the clip below:
