Washington ( CNN ) -- A pair of Russian aircraft buzzed a U.S. warship off the Arctic coast of Russia on consecutive days last week , leading the U.S. Navy chief of naval operations to raise the issue with his Russian counterpart , a Pentagon spokesman Col. Dave Lapan said . The first incident occurred September 10 in international waters of the Barents Sea . A U.S. military official , who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the incidents , said a Russian Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft flew about 50 yards off the side of the guided missile frigate USS Taylor at just about 100 feet above sea level . The official said the aircraft made several passes near the ship . The next day a Russian Helix helicopter circled the Taylor , also at low altitude . The official described the activity as `` abnormal '' operating procedure , because of the risk of an accident at such close range . Adm. Gary Roughead , the U.S. chief of naval operations , discussed the matter with his Russian counterpart , Adm. Vladimir Vysotskiy , according to Lapan . Lapan said the ship 's crew did not interpret the Russian overflights to be hostile , but said the two sides are still talking to determine whether standard maritime procedures were followed . The two admirals met earlier this week during a visit of Russian military officials to the Pentagon . The incidents were disclosed by U.S. military officials only after that visit was over .
Two Russian aircraft made separate close approaches to the USS Taylor , officials say . The activity was `` abnormal '' but not necessarily hostile , officials say . The incidents were disclosed after Russian military officials visited the Pentagon .