A Chinese Fighter Jet Carries Out “Aggressive” Maneuver In US Military Plane’s Flight Path

According to a statement from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, a Chinese J-16 jet fighter carried out an aggressive flight maneuver in front of an American surveillance plane flying in international airspace.

The reported incident occurred on May 26. According to the statement released, the Chinese jet flew directly in front of the nose of the American plane, causing it to travel through its wake turbulence.

Wake turbulence is a disturbance in the atmosphere that forms behind an aircraft as it passes through the air, creating unfavorable flight characteristics.

Video taken from inside the American plane’s cockpit first shows the Chinese jet flying in the American plane’s flight path. The footage then shows how the plane shakes as it goes through the wake turbulence left in its path.

The incident is believed to be part of a coordinated plan of harassment, as stated by a senior U.S. defense official. Another incident previously took place on December 21, 2022.

We don’t believe it’s done by pilots operating independently. We believe it’s part of a wider pattern we see in the South China Sea, the East China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, and elsewhere.

U.S. Defense Official

The statement released by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command ao stated that despite this incident and many alleged other instances, the United States would continue to fly, sail, and operate whenever international law allows.

The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate – safely and responsibly – wherever international law allows, and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Joint Force will continue to fly in international airspace with due regard for the safety of all vessels and aircraft under international law.

— U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Asia this week to meet with regional defense leaders. He will not meet with China as the country denied a meeting offer made by the United States.

You can watch the video of the incident below.

Here is video of the incident where the J-16 flew in front of the RC-135 at a distance of 400 feet, the US plane then flew through its wake — you can see the plane bounce. pic.twitter.com/rRdGfDSR1x

— luis martinez (@LMartinezABC) May 30, 2023