Russian fighter jet flew within 5 feet of U.S. spy plane in international airspace

Russian Su-27 flew within 5 feet of a U.S. spy plane — (Image credit: Pierre Verdy/AFP/Getty Images)

On Monday, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet flew within 5 feet of an EP-3E Aires II surveillance plane over the Black Sea, in what the Russian defense ministry acknowledged was outside Russian airspace. The State Department lodged a protest, calling the maneuver "an unsafe interaction with a U.S. EP-3 in international airspace," in "but the latest example of Russian military activities disregarding international norms and agreements." Russia's defense ministry said that the Su-27 returned to its base "after the surveillance plane of the U.S. Navy had changed its course to move away from the border," according to Russia's RIA news agency.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.