Chinese jets intercept, fire flares near Canadian helicopter in ‘significantly unsafe’ moves

Defence Minister Bill Blair says a Canadian helicopter was involved in two 'unsafe' intercepts last week involving two separate Chinese fighter jets.

Canada’s Defence Minister Bill Blair says that two dangerous intercepts took place involving Chinese fighter jets and a Canadian Cyclone helicopter on Oct. 29, including flares deployed in the path of the helicopter.

The intercepts took place near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea, “well outside of the territorial limits of both China or any other countries,” Blair said, and while the Canadian helicopter was conducting routine exercises in the region.

The CH-148 Cyclone helicopter had taken off from the HMCS Ottawa, which the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) says is deployed in the region as part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy.

The CAF says that the first encounter with the jets was deemed safe, but two subsequent encounters were not.

In the first encounter, a J-11 Chinese fighter jet flew over the Canadian helicopter. One flyover took place with “little separation” and caused the helicopter to experience turbulence, the military said.

Later that same day, the CAF says that the same helicopter was intercepted by another J-11 jet, which launched flares directly into the helicopter’s path. The pilot was forced to manoeuvre to avoid the flares and prevent one from entering the aircraft’s rotor or air intakes.

The helicopter was not damaged in either incident and all crew are safe.

Blair says Canada has had diplomatic communications with China to raise concerns.