Official statements from the U.S. State Department or Russian Foreign Ministry

Russian Fighter Jet's Unsafe Maneuver Within 50 Feet of U.S. F-16 in Alaska ADIZ

Oct 1, 2024, 02:23 AM

On September 23, 2024, a Russian Su-35 fighter jet performed an unsafe and unprofessional maneuver near a U.S. Air Force F-16 during a routine intercept in the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) released video footage showing the Russian jet coming within 50 feet of the U.S. aircraft. The incident, described by U.S. officials as endangering all involved, occurred while the U.S. F-16 was intercepting Russian Tu-95 bombers. General Gregory Guillot of NORAD condemned the maneuver, emphasizing that it was not characteristic of a professional air force.