Russian Jet Intercepted US Air Force Plane Over The Baltic Sea

A Russian Su-27 jet intercepted a U.S. Air Force RC-135 aircraft which was flying a reconnaissance mission in international airspace above the Baltic Sea, the Defense Department said Friday. The Pentagon said the interception was made in an "unsafe and unprofessional manner."
"The SU-27 intercepted the U.S. aircraft flying a routine route at high rate of speed from the side then proceeded to perform an aggressive maneuver that posed a threat to the safety of the U.S. aircrew in the RC-135," Lt. Col. Michelle L. Baldanza, a U.S. Army spokesperson, said.
Russia defended its interception of the U.S. Air Force RC-135 plane over the Baltic Sea, saying it sent its Su-27 fighter jet so close because the American plane had turned off its transponder, which is needed for identification.