Navy Recon Aircraft Approached by Venezuelan Fighter in Unsafe Manner

A Venezuelan fighter as it shadowed a U.S. EP-3 Aries II in international airspace over the Caribbean Sea on July 19. U.S. Southern Command

MIAMI, Fla. —
A U.S. Navy EP-3E Aries II aircraft, flying a mission in approved international
airspace on July 19, was approached in an unprofessional manner by a SU-30 Flanker
Venezuelan fighter aircraft, according to the U.S. Southern Command.

“After
reviewing video documentation, we have determined the Russian-made fighter
aggressively shadowed the EP-3 at an unsafe distance in international airspace
for a prolonged period of time, endangering the safety of the crew and
jeopardizing the EP-3 mission,” according to a July 21 release from Southern
Command.

A Venezuelan Su-30 fighter plane "aggressively shadowed" a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft operating over the Caribbean Sea, according to U.S. Southern Command, in a move the U.S. is calling "unprofessional." https://t.co/pq9JV02Znj pic.twitter.com/Vd2mjRyVtg

— ABC News (@ABC) July 22, 2019

“The U.S.
routinely conducts regionally supported, multinationally recognized and
approved detection and monitoring missions in the region to ensure the safety
and security of our citizens and those of our partners. The EP-3 aircraft was
adhering to international standards and rules.”

“The Maduro regime
continues to undermine internationally recognized laws and demonstrate its
contempt for international agreements authorizing the U.S. and other nations to
safely conduct flights in international airspace,” according to the release.