A US Air Force B-52H Stratofortress on its final approach to Nellis AFB, Nevada, following a Red Flag mission.
(CNN) -
Russian fighter jets escorted a U.S. Air Force plane as it approached Russian airspace over the Pacific Ocean, Russian state news agency TASS said on Sunday.
There were no violations of the Russian state border during the episode, according to TASS, which, citing Russia's National Defense Command Center, said that "three Russian Sukhoi-35S fighter jets have been deployed to escort a US strategic bomber B -52H, which approached Russian airspace. "
"The crews of the fighter jets identified the target as a US Air Force B-52H strategic bomber and escorted it over the Pacific Ocean. There were no violations of Russia's state border or dangerous proximity of the planes in the air, "added TASS.
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According to the state news agency, Russia's Sukhoi-25S fighter jets "strictly followed" international standards and returned to base after the American plane left the Russian border.
CNN contacted the Pentagon for comment.
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The incident is the most recent discharge in recent years between Russian aircraft and US or NATO aircraft.
In March, NATO sent fighter jets 10 times to track and intercept an "unusual spike" of Russian bombers and fighter jets flying over the North Sea, the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea, a NATO official said in that moment.
Also, in August 2020, two Russian aircraft intercepted in an "unsafe and unprofessional" manner a B-52 bomber of the United States Air Force over the Black Sea and in international waters, causing turbulence to the B-52 that restricted its capacity. maneuvering.
CNN's Devan Cole contributed to this report.
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