Chinese Fighter Jets Challenge US Navy Plane, Nearly Cause Collision

Pentagon officials tell CBN News two armed Chinese fighter jets flew dangerously close to a U.S. Navy reconnaissance plane Sunday afternoon.

The incident which happened in the East China Sea nearly caused a 'collision,' U.S. officials tell CBN News.

One of the Chinese J-10 jets flew under the American EP-3 jet and maneuvered suddenly, popping up 300 feet in front of the U.S. plane and causing "the EP-3 to take evasive action to avoid collision," a Pentagon official said.

Officials add both Chinese fighter jets were armed with air-to-air missiles.

It's the first unsafe interaction between China and the U.S. Navy in the air near China.

A similar incident occurred off the coast of Hong Kong in late May.