On 13 September 1987, a Soviet Su-27 Flanker collided with a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion reconnaissance aircraft over the Barents Sea during an interception mission. The Su-27, tasked with shadowing the P-3, maneuvered too closely and clipped the American aircraft, damaging one of its propellers. Despite the impact, the P-3 managed to return safely to Norway, and the Su-27 also landed without loss. The incident highlighted the high risks of Cold War aerial interceptions, where aggressive shadowing often brought opposing aircraft dangerously close.