A Chinese military helicopter flew within 10 feet (3 meters) of a Philippine patrol plane over the South China Sea on Tuesday, in what observers said was the second incident of potentially catastrophic behavior by the People’s Liberation Army against foreign aircraft in a week.

A Chinese naval helicopter flew nearly 10 feet from a Philippine patrol plane on Tuesday over a contested reef in the South China Sea, escalating tensions with Manila and Washington in the airspace over international waterways Beijing claims as its own.

The wife of a Connecticut man who died in last month's collision between a passenger jet and a military helicopter near Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport has filed what are believed to be the first legal claims over the crash that killed 67 people.

The claims were filed on behalf of the widow and children of Casey Crafton, 40, of Salem. He died as a result of the crash, leaving behind his wife of 16 years, Rachel, and three young sons.