The American military says a Russian fighter jet has collided with a US drone, causing the unmanned US aircraft to crash into the Black Sea.
The MQ-9 aircraft was said to be on a routine mission in international airspace when two Russian jets attempted to capture it.
The US and allied forces say they will continue to operate in the area. The US European Command said the crash on Tuesday was an “unprofessional act by the Russians”.
The US statement said “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.”
On several occasions, before the crash, the Su-27 fighter jets sprayed fuel on the drone in a “reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner”.
MQ-9 Reaper drones are large unmanned aircraft with a 20m wingspan designed for high-altitude surveillance.
The drone was said to be hovering up the Russian communications systems. According to John Kirby, the White House spokesperson, it is not unusual for Russian intercepts of US aircraft to occur over the Black Sea. However, this is the first instance where such an intercept has led to a crash.
Tensions in the region have escalated following Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. As a result, the US and the UK have increased their reconnaissance and surveillance flights, while ensuring that they only operate within international airspace.