Adjustment Made To Maintain Adequate Airspace Separation From Russian Planes

U.S. military authorities say they have had to reroute U.S. aircraft operating over Syria in at least one instance in an effort to maintain separation from Russian jets conducting air strikes in the region.

Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said that in at least one instance "we've had to modify the route of one of our planes in order to maintain adequate airspace separation with a Russian aircraft." He said that U.S. and Russian officials have conducted at least one meeting focused on procedures that could be used to prevent mishaps between Russian aircraft and those flying in support of the U.S.-led coalition in Syria, according to a report appearing in USA Today.

But those talks do not involve U.S.-Russian cooperation on military goals. "We have not agreed to cooperate with Russia, so long as they continue to pursue their mistaken strategy and hit these non-ISIL (ISIS) targets," Davis said.

But Davis said that the channel of communication remains open as a safety precaution for U.S. pilots.

No details about the aircraft involved were provided by the Pentagon.

FMI: www.defense.gov