Startling video shows Russian fighter jet flying within feet of US F-16 near Alaska
Military officials have released new video of a startling interaction between a Russian jet flying near Alaska and a U.S. plane sent to intercept it
By MARK THIESSEN
Published - Sep 30, 2024, 08:45 PM ET
Last Updated - Dec 16, 2024, 06:46 PM EST
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Military officials have released new video of a startling encounter between a Russian fighter jet flying near Alaska and a U.S. Air Force F-16 sent to intercept it.
In the video released Monday, the Russian plane comes from behind the camera and swoops by the U.S. jet, just feet from the aircraft.
The video release of the close encounter Sept. 23, with the U.S. pilot under the direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, comes after a series of Russian incursions into the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone just beyond U.S. sovereign airspace.
The interaction drew condemnation from NORAD’s top officer and one of Alaska's U.S. senators.
