Source: Jacksonville-based Navy plane intercepted by Russian jet

A Jacksonville-based Navy plane was intercepted by a Russian fighter jet Tuesday over the Baltic Sea, according to an Action News Jax source.

The Russian jet intercepted the U.S. Navy spy plane over international airspace above the Baltic Sea, CBS News reports.

The aircraft came within 20 feet of each other in what the European Command is describing as a safe intercept.

The incident was initially called "safe" but "unprofessional," but that was later changed to "safe" and "professional."

The U.S. Navy spy plane was a Navy P-8 maritime surveillance plane based at NAS Jacksonville.

Another Russian fighter jet came within five feet of a U.S. spy plane over the Black Sea in January.

After that incident, the U.S. State Department said Russia "was flagrantly violating existing agreements and international law."

CBS News reports the U.S. military said a Russian fighter jet flew within 50 feet of a Navy reconnaissance plane in November 2017, causing the aircraft to tilt 15 degrees from the resulting turbulence.

In May 2017, a Russian jet came within 20 feet of a U.S. spy plane and in December 2017, two U.S. F-22A Raptors came in contact with two Russian jets as they crossed a deconfliction line over Syria, according to CBS News.

Cox Media Group