Chinese Fighter Accused of Intercepting, Releasing Debris Into Australian P-8’s Engines

A Chinese fighter jet "cut across the nose" of an Australian P-8 surveillance aircraft and released chaff, which was sucked into its engines, according to Australian defense officials.

Kimberly Johnson

Tuesday, June 07, 2022 at 03:37 PM ET

Verified

On May 26, a Chinese jet flew in front of a Royal Australian Air Force P-8 Poseidon, similar to this one, and released a bundle of chaff, according to officials. [Courtesy: Royal Australian Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

A Chinese J-16 fighter jeopardized an Australian P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea by releasing chaff into its engines during a routine flight, an act Australia deemed a dangerous maneuver.
Australia condemned the intercept as a safety threat, asserting its right to freedom of navigation, while China accused the Australian aircraft of threatening its sovereignty and defended its military's actions as professional and legal.
The incident closely followed similar "irresponsible and provocative" intercepts by Chinese military aircraft against Canadian surveillance planes enforcing UN sanctions near North Korea, which Canada also strongly criticized.

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A Chinese fighter jeopardized crew safety of a Royal Australian Air Force P-8 Poseidon aircraft late last month when it intercepted the airplane and released debris into its engines while it conducted a routine surveillance flight over the South China Sea, according to Australian defense officials.

News of the incident sparked sharp words and accusations from defense officials in both countries, and comes close on the heels of a separate incident involving Chinese and Canadian military aircraft.