U.S. military official tells CNN the incident occurred on Saturday . On April 23 , a Russian Su-27 Flanker fighter jet buzzed within 100 feet of the nose of a U.S. Air Force RC-135U reconnaissance plane over the Sea of Okhotsk between Russia and Japan , a Defense Department official said . RC-135 Flanker was on electronic eavesdropping mission in international airspace . Swedish began tracking with ground radar , and sent 298 fighter to intercept . U.S. plane evaded encounter by flying into Russians airspace without permission .
U.S. military official tells CNN the incident occurred on Saturday . RC-135 Flanker was on electronic eavesdropping mission in international airspace . Swedish began tracking with ground radar , and sent 298 fighter to intercept . U.S. plane evaded encounter by flying into Russians airspace without permission .