The U.S. military released video footage showing a Russian fighter jet conducting what it described as an unsafe and unprofessional maneuver near Alaska. The incident occurred during a U.S. intercept of Russian military aircraft in international airspace.
Such intercepts are routine near Alaska, and U.S. officials typically characterize them as professional, but in this case, the behavior of the Russian Su-35 fighter jet was deemed dangerous.
Air Force General Gregory Guillot, responsible for overseeing U.S. forces in North America, criticized the actions of the Russian pilot, stating that the maneuver endangered everyone involved.
He noted that this behavior deviated from what is expected of a professional military force. The incident was highlighted in a statement on X, and at the time of the report, Russia’s embassy in Washington had not responded to requests for comment.
U.S. Military Condemns Russian Fighter Jet’s Unsafe Maneuver During Intercept Near Alaska
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) reported on September 23 that it had tracked four Russian military aircraft operating within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). While the presence of Russian aircraft in this zone is not unusual and typically does not pose a threat, this particular incident stood out because of the risky actions of the Russian pilot.
An ADIZ is a region of international airspace adjacent to a country’s borders, where incoming aircraft are required to identify themselves to prevent potential security risks.
While these zones are in international airspace and do not constitute national territory, military forces monitor activity closely to ensure no hostile actions take place. The U.S. and Russia regularly engage in these aerial interactions, but the behavior of the Russian jet in this instance raised concerns for safety and professionalism.
