Too Close for Comfort

A Russian fighter jet and US aircraft unwittingly passed within a half mile of each other over Syria on Oct. 17, Col. John Dorrian, spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, said Friday. The Russian jet passed in front of the “larger framed” US aircraft, which was close enough to feel the jet wash. “So that’s closer than we’d like,” Dorrian said. He said there was immediate contact between the two aircraft and then follow-up on the deconfliction channel, which remains in daily use. The Pentagon does not believe there was “nefarious intent” on the part of the Russian pilot, Dorrian said.