Russian jet conducts 'unsafe' intercept of US plane

"On June 19, a US RC-135U flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea was intercepted by a Russian SU-27 Flanker," Europe Command spokesman Captain Joseph Alonso said in a statement.

"Due to the high rate of closure speed and poor control of the aircraft during the intercept, this interaction was determined to be unsafe."

Russian planes routinely intercept US jets in the skies near the Baltics and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, but the Pentagon says most of these are deemed to be safe and professional.

Monday's intercept comes at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the United States over recent events in Syria.