Unprofessional Chinese fighter pilots buzz US spy plane in 'unsafe' manner

On the plus side, there’s been no report of U.S. military aircraft or vessels being buzzed by Russian fighter jets this week:

2 Chinese fighter jets 'buzz' US Navy recon plane in South China Sea. Pentagon calls incident "unsafe." Latest escalation of tensions

— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) May 18, 2016

Chinese Fighter Jets Fly Within 50 Feet Of US Spy Plane Over South China Sea https://t.co/1aIqm51oLy

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) May 18, 2016

JUST IN: Two Chinese jets have come within 50 ft of an American plane in the first "unsafe" intercept between China and the U.S. since 2014

— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) May 18, 2016

It was just last month that Defense Secretary Ash Carter addressed Russian fighter jets buzzing a U.S. guided missile destroyer and doing a barrel roll over a U.S. surveillance plane, calling it “unprofessional behavior” as well as dangerous. “These pilots need to get the word, ‘Hey, knock it off. This is unprofessional,'” he told the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Today, the Department of Defense gave the Chinese a mild tongue lashing for similar “unsafe” behavior while praising China for its recent record of safe and professional flying.

JUST IN: DOD reviewing “unsafe" intercept of U.S. military aircraft by 2 Chinese fighter jets over South China Sea pic.twitter.com/JXmucr00q7

— ABC News (@ABC) May 18, 2016

Weak

— John (@redskinz77) May 18, 2016

https://twitter.com/ZhidoBandera/status/733048565979840512

Recommended

Monday Morning Meme Madness

FuzzyChimp

Advertisement

https://twitter.com/Dcoffey56Donna/status/733049866985836548

Well, according to John Kirby, the U.S. did oblige when Russia told us to clear out of Syrian air space so their bombers could go about their business.

https://twitter.com/Bellis2488My/status/733066337807912960

Wouldn't be surprised if the Canadians are next.

— Apostic (@AposticMark) May 18, 2016

https://twitter.com/carrdavid71/status/733063415913140224

If the Chinese pilots were just performing a friendly tribute to “Top Gun” in honor of the movie’s 30th anniversary, they missed it by a day.

Getting a little sentimental today, the 30th anniversary of TOP GUN. "Bring it on back!" https://t.co/MaKQxWmv8w https://t.co/fyzL8bLTW6

— TopGunDay (@TopGunDay) May 16, 2016