Russian jet collides with US drone

Published March 14th, 2023 - 04:58 GMT
Russian jet

ALBAWABA - The U.S. military's European Command announced that a Russian fighter jet crashed into a U.S. drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday.

U.S. Air Force General James Hecker, commander of US Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said that a Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with an American MQ-9 Reaper drone.

"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," Hecker said.

A U.S. statement said the Reaper drone and two Russian Su-27 aircraft were flying over international waters, when one of the Russian jets sped off and intentionally flew in front of the drone, dumping fuel on the unmanned aircraft multiple times.

Social media users voiced concern about a possible escalation of tension between the former Cold War foes following the incident.

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