Incident Overview
A civilian aircraft conducting a maritime patrol mission over the Bering Sea came under attack by two Soviet MiG-15 fighter jets. At the time, the airplane was cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet, approximately 40 miles west of Saint Lawrence Island.
Attack and Evasion
According to the official investigation, the aircraft was attacked by two Soviet MiG-15 fighters. The crew managed to evade the attackers and exit the area. Following the engagement, the crew decided to perform an emergency landing on Saint Lawrence Island.
Crash Landing
Upon reaching the island, the aircraft crash landed. Despite the severity of the landing, there were no injuries among the crew. The aircraft sustained damage from the crash landing.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause of the incident was stated as: "Attacked by two Soviet MiG-15."