Multiple U.S. military sources tell Fox News early morning on Wednesday, April 21st, an Iranian Navy F-27 maritime patrol aircraft, flying in international airspace, flew near the USS Eisenhower (CVN 69) shortly after the aircraft carrier had finished being resupplied in the Gulf of Oman.
Sources tell Fox this is the type of plane:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker_Friendship
Senior U.S. military sources say the plane’s closest point of approach was 1000 yards (more than ½ mile or 10 football fields) from the USS Eisenhower.
Military sources say this aircraft was a unarmed multi-engine propeller plane, configured only for maritime patrol. To be precise, sources tell Fox it had no weapon systems.
Navy personnel identified the aircraft as part of Iran’s regular Navy (professional Navy) not the Quds Force.
The plane remained in the area for approximately 20 minutes before leaving the vicinity. Military sources say interaction with the aircraft were routine and consistent with the type of behavior we see daily with their professional Navy.
U.S. aircraft carriers have not operated regularly inside the Arabian Gulf in the past couple of years due to being dedicated to Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) support the War in Afghanistan. The carrier position for OEF support is usually far enough east that Iranian maritime patrol flights do not usually venture out there, which is why they do not normally interact with American carriers.
U.S. Navy ships operating inside the Arabian Gulf, on the other hand, routinely have Iranian maritime patrol aircraft fly by their positions – almost on a daily basis.
U.S. officials say Iranian forces are aware of the American military presence in the region just as American ships are aware of their positioning.
Military sources say the interaction of U.S. forces with the regular Iranian Navy and Air Force continues to be within standards of maritime practice.