A Russian Su-35 fighter jet nearly collided with a U.S. military aircraft during an intercept mission, according to footage released by the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).
The incident, which occurred on September 23, involved what U.S. officials are calling “unsafe and unprofessional” behavior by the Russian pilot.
NORAD described the actions of the Russian fighter as reckless, saying the Su-35 flew dangerously close to a U.S. aircraft conducting a routine patrol within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The Russian jet reportedly took up positions close to each wing of the U.S. aircraft, limiting its ability to maneuver safely.
General Gregory Guillot, Commander of NORAD, strongly criticized the actions of the Russian pilot. “On September 23, 2024, NORAD aircraft flew a safe and disciplined intercept of Russian military aircraft in the Alaska ADIZ,” he said. “The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all—not what you’d see in a professional air force.”
“On Sept 23, 2024, NORAD aircraft flew a safe and disciplined intercept of Russian Military Aircraft in the Alaska ADIZ. The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all – not what you’d see in a professional air force.” – Gen. Gregory Guillot pic.twitter.com/gXZj3Ndkag
— North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) September 30, 2024
The intercept was part of routine NORAD operations, which are carried out to monitor and track foreign military activity near U.S. airspace. However, the behavior of the Russian pilot was seen as a dangerous deviation from standard practices. According to NORAD, the proximity of the Su-35 to the U.S. jet created a hazardous situation for both crews.
In recent years, Russian aircraft have frequently flown near U.S. airspace in the Arctic, prompting regular intercepts by NORAD forces. However, most previous encounters have been described as professional and uneventful.