Russian Fighter Jet's Close Encounter with US F-16 Raises Safety Concerns Near Alaska

Military officials have shared a new video showing a tense encounter between a Russian fighter jet and a US Air Force F-16 near Alaska. The footage, released on Monday, captures the Russian aircraft approaching from behind and passing dangerously close to the US jet. This incident occurred on September 23 under the supervision of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

The video release follows multiple Russian intrusions into the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, which lies just outside US sovereign airspace. These actions have drawn criticism from NORAD's top officer and an Alaskan senator. Gen Gregory Guillot, commander of NORAD and US Northern Command, stated, "The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all -- not what you'd see in a professional air force." He added that the NORAD aircraft maintained a safe and disciplined approach during the interception.

Russian Military Activity Near Alaska

Recently, eight Russian military planes and four navy vessels, including two submarines, approached Alaska as part of joint exercises with China. Although none entered US airspace, about 130 US soldiers were deployed with mobile rocket launchers to Shemya Island, located approximately 1,931 kilometres southwest of Anchorage. They stayed on the Aleutian island for a week before returning to their bases.

In July, Russian and Chinese bombers flew together for the first time in international airspace near Alaska. This cooperation raised concerns for US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. In 2022, a US Coast Guard ship encountered three Chinese and four Russian naval vessels sailing in formation about 137 kilometres north of Alaska's Kiska Island in the Bering Sea.

Calls for Increased Military Presence

US Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, emphasised the need to bolster America's military presence in Alaska and the Arctic. He said, "The reckless and unprofessional manoeuvres of Russian fighter pilots -- within just a few feet of our Alaska-based fighters -- in Alaska's ADIZ on September 23 put the lives of our brave Airmen at risk and underscore the escalating aggression we're witnessing from dictators like Vladimir Putin."

A message seeking comment was sent to the Russian Embassy on Monday but had not been returned at the time of reporting. The close pass by the Russian jet highlights ongoing tensions between Russia and the United States in this strategically significant region.