Russian fighter jet endangers American lives in close encounter over Syria: US

A Russian fighter jet flew very close to a US surveillance aircraft over Syria, forcing it to go through the turbulent wake and putting the lives of the four American crew members in danger, US officials said Monday.

The officials said the incident was a significant escalation in what has been a string of encounters between US and Russian aircraft in Syria in recent weeks. 

The intercept by the Russian Su-35 impeded the US crew’s ability to safely operate their MC-12 aircraft, the officials said, calling it a new level of unsafe behavior that could result in an accident or loss of life.