A Chinese fighter jet came within 10 feet of an American B-52 bomber flying over the South China Sea, nearly causing an accident, the U.S. military said, underscoring the potential for a mishap as both countries vie for influence in the region.

In the night intercept, the Shenyang J-11 twin-engine fighter closed on the U.S. Air Force plane at an “uncontrolled excessive speed, flying below, in front of, and within 10 feet of the B-52, putting both aircraft in danger of a collision,” the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement released late Thursday.

“We are concerned this pilot was unaware of how close he came to causing a collision,” the military said.

  • ours@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Ah, because if there’s something the World needs right now is more useless wars.

    Thankfully you aren’t in charge of diplomacy and started WWIII because a plane got close to another. But nice armchair “analysis” there.

    • roo@lemmy.one
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      1 year ago

      Self own there. How would a simple jet fight create WWIII? It’s unlikely. Dick move, but unlikely to tip anything more off than a tit for tat that that festers along.

      Sure, it could be on if China wasn’t so grossly inadequate, but they’re not actually professing that much military capability at this point.