Crash of drone caused by Russian jets 'Brazen violation of international law,' says US

The U.S. military said Wednesday that a Russian fighter jet hit the propeller of a U.S. surveillance drone over the Black Sea in a "brazen violation of international law," prompting U.S. forces to shoot down the drone. However, Russia claimed that its warplanes did not hit the MQ-9 Reaper drone. Instead, Moscow said the drone maneuvered violently and crashed into the water after colliding with Russian fighter jets that were undercover to intercept it near Crimea.

The incident, which added to Russian-American tensions over Moscow's war in Ukraine, appeared to be the first time since the height of the Cold War that a US airliner was downed after a collision with a Russian warplane. US President Joe Biden was briefed on the incident by national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to White House national security spokesman John Kirby. He said US State Department officials would speak directly to their Russian counterparts and "express our concerns about this dangerous and unprofessional interception".

Meanwhile, State Department spokesman Ned Price said the US had summoned Russia's ambassador to file a protest, and US Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy made similar statements in Moscow. The U.S. European Command said two Russian Su-27 fighter jets intercepted the drone while it was operating in international airspace. One of the Russian fighter jets hit the MQ-9's propeller, causing US forces to shoot it down in international waters.

Earlier, the Su-27s dumped fuel on the MQ-9 and flew in front of it several times in a "reckless, environmentally inappropriate and unprofessional manner", the US European Command said in a statement from Stuttgart, Germany. "In addition to being dangerous and unprofessional, this incident shows a lack of competence," he added.

US Air Force General James Hecker, commander of US Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said the MQ-9 was "conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and engaged by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and total loss". MQ-9.”  "In fact, this dangerous and unprofessional act by the Russians almost caused both planes to crash," he added. Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said the incident occurred at 7:03 a.m. CET (06:03 GMT; 2:03 CEST) over international waters and well away from Ukraine after Russian jets flew close to the drone for 30 up to 40 minutes. There did not appear to be any communication between the planes before the collision, Ryder added.

The MQ-9 contains a ground control station and satellite equipment and has a wingspan of 66 feet (20 meters). It is capable of carrying ammunition, but Ryder did not say if it was armed. The United States did not detect the crashed drone, US Air Forces-Europe said in a statement, and neither did Russia, Ryder said. He said the Russian plane also appeared to have been damaged in the crash, but the US confirmed it had landed, although Ryder did not say where.

Russia's defense ministry said the USdron flew over the Black Sea near Crimea and entered an area declared off-limits by Russia as part of what it calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine, prompting the military to shoot down fighter jets to intercept it. she held back. . "As a result of a sharp maneuver, the MQ-9 drone went into an uncontrolled flight with a loss of altitude and crashed into the water," it said.

The US European Command said the incident followed a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots when interacting with US and allied aircraft over international airspace, including the Black Sea.