Read previewThe Australian government said Monday that a Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force fighter jet released flares dangerously close to an Australian Defence Force helicopter over the weekend.
The PLAAF jet intercepted the Royal Australian Navy MH-60R helicopter attached to HMAS Hobart in the Yellow Sea and "released flares across the flight path of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) helicopter," the Australian government said in a statement.
Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said a Chinese J-10 fighter aircraft popped flares about 300 meters in front of the helicopter and about 60 meters above it, per reporting from the AP.
Related stories"This was an unsafe manoeuvre which posed a risk to the aircraft and personnel," the statement said.
This isn't the first incident involving a Chinese jet engaging in troubling behavior in the vicinity of an Australian aircraft.
Persons:
—, Operation, Richard Marles
Organizations:
Service, Liberation Army Air Force, Australian Defence Force, Royal Australian Navy, ADF, Business, Australian Defense, China, of Defense, Military, Security, U.S
Locations:
Hobart, North Korea, Chinese, Canberra, Beijing, Australian, China, People's Republic of China