An U.S. Navy picture shows what appears to be a Russian Sukhoi SU-24 attack aircraft making a very low pass close to the U.S. guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea in this picture taken April 12, 2016 and released April 13, 2016. REUTERS/US NAVY/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS
Peter Apps, Reuters: Commentary: Why Vladimir Putin should rein in his 'Top Guns'
In the movie Top Gun, there is a running gag in which hotshot fighter pilot "Maverick" - played by Tom Cruise - insists on repeatedly "buzzing" U.S. Navy control towers in his F-14 Tomcat.
Every time he achieves something in the air, he requests permission for a high-speed, low-level flyby. It is always denied - but that maverick Maverick does it anyway.
In reality, though, flying fast-moving aircraft is one of the world’s riskiest occupations. And while sparring in the skies - even the bloodless posturing common between nations in time of tension -- is what some aviators live for, there is little tolerance for truly unnecessary risks.
When two Russian Su-24 jets made what U.S. officials described as several “simulated attack runs” on the destroyer Donald Cook in the Baltic last week, the United States military appears to have suffered a comprehensive – but understandable – sense-of-humor failure.
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WNU Editor: Russian fighter pilots do not act independently in such "close encounters" .... they follow orders. In this case .... considering how close these fighter were .... I would not be surprised if Putin himself gave the green-light via through his defense minister for this "close encounter".