MOSCOW, April 16 (Xinhua) -- A Russian MiG-31 fighter intercepted a U.S. reconnaissance plane above the Pacific Ocean on Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Russian radars detected an air target approaching the Russian state border over the Pacific Ocean and an MiG-31 took off from an airfield in Russia's Kamchatka in response, the ministry said.
The crew of the Russian jet identified the air target as an RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft of the U.S. Air Force and then escorted it over the Pacific Ocean.
After the U.S. aircraft flew away from the Russian border, the MiG-31 safely returned to the airfield.
During its flight, the Russian fighter strictly complied with international rules for the use of airspace, the ministry added.
