Tue 14 March 2023:
Russian fighter jet and an unmanned US military drone collided in international airspace over the Black Sea, according to the US Air Force,
Two Russian Su-27 aircraft “conducted an unsafe and unprofessional intercept” of the MQ-9 surveillance drone at 06:03 GMT on Tuesday, according to a statement from US Air Forces Europe.
According to the statement, one of the two Russian jets collided with a drone’s propeller.
“Several times before the collision, the Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner,” it continued.
US forces brought the drone down over international waters.
“Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9,” said Air Force General James B Hecker, who is the commander of US Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa.
“In fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash. US and allied aircraft will continue to operate in international airspace and we call on the Russians to conduct themselves professionally and safely,” Hecker said in the statement.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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