A short video shows a Russian warplane flying right next to a NATO country’s aircraft. After the publication, there was a debate about the requirements of safety and professionalism in international airspace.
A caption attached to the video reads: “Close encounter between Russian Sukhoi fighter jet and Italian F-35A Lightning II fighter jet.”
The footage received mixed reactions on the Internet – some viewers expressed concern about the behavior of the Russian pilot.
“Either the person filming zoomed in too much, or the Russian pilot approached the Italian fighter in an unprofessional manner,” one commenter noted. The video ends with the F-35 making a slight adjustment to its flight direction to the left, leading some to speculate that this maneuver was in response to the Suchoj’s physical proximity to the aircraft.
One commentator reacted to this incident over neutral waters without hiding irony and drawing attention to the condition of the Russian aircraft.
“Now I understand why the Russian pilot wants to keep the souvenir. After all, it’s not every day that he gets the chance to see such a high-tech degeneracy. That poor guy sees only the rust of a Soviet-era plane every day,” he wrote.
The incident underscores ongoing tensions in the Baltic Sea region, where Russian and NATO aircraft often fly close to each other. Such collisions, although not rare, present a risk of miscalculation.
NATO patrols in the region aim to ensure the safety of allied airspace, and Russian aircraft often question the boundaries of international airspace.
“This particular interaction highlights the delicate balance maintained in the skies over the Baltic Sea and reminds us of the professionalism required to avoid escalation.” NATO has not issued an official statement regarding the incident, and the Italian Air Force has not yet confirmed or commented on the Russian encounter with the F-35,” writes Defense Blog.
Source: www.15min.lt
