This is fairly common, not really a “jerk move” as described. What is unusual and interesting is the aircraft, wiki sez it was last produced in 94’.
Also from the wiki a bit about the long trailing wire:
" A communications variant designated Tu-142MR (“Bear J”) was the last production version of the Tu-142. It was tasked with long-range communications duties with Soviet ballistic missile submarines, a role similar to that of the Boeing E-6 Mercury. The Tu-142MR differed from the ASW Tu-142s in having less-sophisticated avionics, but had a long trailing wire radio aerial to relay messages to submerged Soviet submarines in times of nuclear war."
It’s crazy to still be flying a 100 ton prop plane.
