(CNN) A Russian aircraft intercepted a US aircraft flying in international airspace over the Mediterranean Sea three times in just under three hours Tuesday, according to the US 6th Fleet. "On June 4, 2019, a U.S. P-8A Poseidon aircraft flying in international airspace over the Mediterranean Sea was intercepted by a Russian SU-35 three times over the course of 175 minutes," the 6th Fleet said in a statement Tuesday. The second of the three interactions "was determined to be unsafe" due to the Russian aircraft "conducting a high speed pass directly in front of the mission aircraft, which put our pilots and crew at risk," it said. The American aircraft was maintaining international standards and "did not provoke this Russian activity," the statement continued. "While the Russian aircraft was operating in international airspace, this interaction was irresponsible.

Source: CNN June 05, 2019 01:52 UTC