Chinese fighter jet ‘was within 10ft of US B-52 bomber’ over South China Sea

The Chinese J-11 came close to the US B-52 aircraft over the South China Sea (US Indo-Pacific Command via AP)

A Chinese fighter jet came within 10ft of an American B-52 bomber flying over the South China Sea, nearly causing an accident, the US military said.

In the night intercept, the Shenyang J-11 twin-engine fighter closed on the US Air Force plane at an “uncontrolled excessive speed, flying below, in front of, and within 10ft of the B-52, putting both aircraft in danger of a collision”, the US Indo-Pacific Command said.