Chinese fighter jet ‘chaffs’ an Australian plane near the South China Sea

• Australian Defense Ministry says, a Chinese fighter jet’s aggressive manoeuvres endangered the crew of an Australian surveillance plane patrolling near the South China Sea.
• While on a normal surveillance flight in international airspace, the Chinese J-16 came alongside the Australian P-8.
• Discharging flares and chaff that penetrated at least one of the Australian aircraft’s engines; according to Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles.

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Chinese fighter jet ‘chaffs’ an Australian plane

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Chaff is normally released by military planes as a planned countermeasure to confuse missiles; but it can also be used to sabotage following aircraft. The encounter was described by Australia’s Defense Ministry as “a risky movement that posed a safety concern to the P-8 aircraft and its crew.”