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A Russian fighter jet collided with an American drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday, the US Military mentioned, in an incident that might additional improve the strain between Moscow and Washington. Two Russian Su-27 plane performed “an unsafe and unprofessional intercept” with a US Air Drive intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance unmanned MQ-9 plane that was working inside worldwide airspace over the Black Sea.
At roughly 7:03 AM (CET), one of many Russian Su-27 plane struck the propeller of the MQ-9, inflicting US forces to need to deliver the MQ-9 down in worldwide waters, the US European Command mentioned in a press release.
The US navy additional mentioned that a number of occasions earlier than the collision, the Su-27s dumped gasoline on and flew in entrance of the MQ-9 in “a reckless, environmentally unsound, and unprofessional method”. “This incident demonstrates an absence of competence along with being unsafe and unprofessional,” the navy added.
US Air Drive Normal James Hecker, who oversees the nation’s Air Drive within the area, mentioned that America’s MQ-9 plane was conducting routine operations in worldwide airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian plane, leading to a crash and full lack of the MQ-9.
“In reality, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians practically brought on each plane to crash,” he mentioned, including that the US and Allied plane will proceed to function in worldwide airspace and “we name on the Russians to conduct themselves professionally and safely”.
This incident follows a sample of harmful actions by Russian pilots whereas interacting with US and Allied plane over worldwide airspace, together with over the Black Sea, the command mentioned. “These aggressive actions by Russian aircrew are harmful and will result in miscalculation and unintended escalation.”
The command additional mentioned that the US Air Forces routinely fly plane all through Europe over sovereign territory and all through worldwide airspace in coordination with the relevant host nation and worldwide legal guidelines. “So as to bolster collective European protection and safety, these missions assist Allied, associate, and U.S. nationwide goals,” it added.
Nationwide Safety Council spokesman John Kirby mentioned US President Joe Biden was briefed concerning the incident.
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