Russian military plane engaged in unsafe interaction with US aircraft

Washington Jan 30 (IANS) The US State Department has said a Russian SU-27 engaged in an "unsafe interaction" with a US EP-3 aircraft in the international airspace over the Black Sea.

State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in an announcement that the US notes "with the highest level of concern" the latest incident of "unsafe" Russian military practices Xinhua news agency reported.

The Russian military plane was involved in the "unsafe interaction" with the US aircraft on Monday according to the State Department.

However the encounter was first reported by Russia s RIA news agency on Monday which cited the Russian Defence Ministry as saying that the Russian fighter jet intercepted a US Navy EP-3E Aries II and prevented it from violating the Russian airspace.

--IANS
pgh/bg