Pentagon spokesperson Lt. Col. Michelle Baldanza said two Chinese J-11 fighters made an unsafe intercept of a U.S. Navy EP-3 spy plane over South China Sea on May 17.
Baldanza said the aircraft was on a “routine patrol” in international airspace and at one time during the intercept, the Chinese side flew approximately 50 feet from the four-engine plane.
The news report added that photos were taken but are currently classified.