{"id":37487,"date":"2019-07-21T18:55:55","date_gmt":"2019-07-21T18:55:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/07\/21\/venezuelan-fighter-jet-aggressively-shadows-us-navy-recon-aircraft\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:50:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:50:14","slug":"venezuelan-fighter-jet-aggressively-shadows-us-navy-recon-aircraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/07\/21\/venezuelan-fighter-jet-aggressively-shadows-us-navy-recon-aircraft\/","title":{"rendered":"Venezuelan fighter jet \u2018aggressively shadows\u2019 US Navy recon aircraft"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/atype-video-jwplayer>
U.S. video of the SU-30 Flanker as it \u201caggressively shadowed\u201d a U.S. EP-3 Aries II in “international airspace” over the Caribbean Sea July 19.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

A U.S. Navy EP-3 Aries II reconnaissance aircraft, was approached in an \u201cunprofessional manner\u201d by a Venezuelan SU-30 Flanker-C fighter aircraft in \u201capproved international airspace\u201d on Friday according to a U.S. Southern Command<\/a> statement released Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter 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,\u201d the release said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.S. aircraft \u201cwas performing a multi-nationally recognized & approved mission in international airspace over #CaribbeanSea,” Southern Command tweeted <\/a>earlier today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Venezuelan fighter \u201ctook off from an airfield 200 miles east of Caracas,” but the release didn\u2019t specify how long the intercept lasted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States, allies and regional partners routinely patrol the Caribbean Sea with ships and aircraft on counter-drug missions. Intercepts of U.S. aircraft have happened more frequently overseas near Russia and China, and are relatively uncommon so close to the U.S. homeland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Southern Command did not detail if this EP-3 Aries was looking for drug smugglers or if its purpose was to monitor Venezuela while tensions with the regime of embattled President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro continue to simmer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An
An image of a Venezuela SU-30 Flanker that \u201caggressively shadowed\u201d a U.S. EP-3 Aries II at an unsafe distance July 19, 2019, jeopardizing the crew & aircraft. (U.S. Southern Command)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Maduro \u201cregime <\/a>continues to undermine internationally recognized laws and demonstrate its contempt for international agreements\u201d and its \u201cunprovoked and unjustified acts\u201d are undermining the ability of \u201cthe U.S. and other nations to safely conduct flights in international airspace,” Southern Command stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Southern Command\u2019s release also took a swipe at Russia, which has continued supporting Maduro<\/a> despite National Assembly President Juan Guaid\u00f3 declaration in January that he\u2019s the South American country\u2019s legitimate leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the past months, most governments in the Western Hemisphere<\/a>, including the United States, have recognized Guaid\u00f3’s rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maduro continues to draw support from nations such as Cuba, China and Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\t