Washington: A Russian fighter jet collided with an America's high-tech reaper drone late on Tuesday night over Black Sea. The US military has confirmed this. However, both the countries have not given much information about this. The US drone crashed after the collision. It is feared that the tension between the two superpowers could mount after the incident.
The American military said – Two Russian fighter jets were present in this area. The wing of one of these collided with the drone. This area is very close to the Ukraine border.
Two Russian Su-27 fighter jets tracked the U.S. surveillance drone as it flew in international airspace over the Black Sea, which borders Turkey, Ukraine and Russia, among other countries.
Russian jets dumped fuel on US aircraft
Prior to the collision, the jets “dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 aircraft in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner,” according to a statement from the U.S. European Command.
America's MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations
U.S. Air Force Gen. James B. Hecker said America's 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. “In fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash.”
Two U.S. defense officials said the Russian jet that collided with the drone did not crash, but instead landed in Crimea. The U.S. assumes the Su-27 was damaged in the collision but does not know for sure.
The officials said this is the first time they’re aware that a Russian jet has dropped fuel on a U.S. aircraft during an intercept.
First time that a US aircraft has crashed
White House spokesman John Kirby said Russian intercepts of US aircraft were not uncommon over the Black Sea, but it was the first time that one had resulted in a crash.
Tensions have risen in the region ever since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine the US and the UK have stepped up reconnaissance and surveillance flights, though always operating in international airspace.
Russia denies
Russia's defense ministry said on Tuesday that its fighter jets did not come into contact with a US drone that crashed into the Black Sea earlier, claiming instead that the drone crashed due to "sharp maneuvering."
"The Russian fighters did not use their onboard weapons, did not come into contact with the UAV and returned safely to their home airfield," the defense ministry said.
Russia said the drone crashed after a "sharp manoeuvre", and denied that the two aircraft made contact.
The Russian defence ministry also said the US aircraft was flying with its transponders turned off. Transponders are communications devices that allow the aircraft to be tracked.
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