These TCAS RA stories crack me up. As a tanker bubba, I've had plenty of TCAS RAs. Most were bogus, some were real encounters with other airplanes not following the rules.

I'd love to know just how close the fighters got to the PSA jet. When they queried ATC, did they have a TCAS TA or was is a full up RA? As another has said, fighters can close on you so fast, the TCAS system will immediately revert to an RA, although they are no where near you or planning to do so.

I find that individuals who have never flown formation, or been close to another airplane, tend to get overly spooked by the TCAS system. Remember, you have 5 seconds to respond to a TCAS RA and 2.5 seconds for a reversal RA. You need a 0.25G maneuver for the first, 0.35G maneuver for that later. Neither of which, requires you to be aggressive and death is not imminent.