AVIATION

14 March 2023: Over The Black Sea

Two Russian Su-27 aircraft conducted an intercept with a U.S. Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance unmanned MQ-9 aircraft that was operating within international airspace over the Black Sea. At approximately 7:03 a.m. (CET), one of the Russian Su-27 aircraft struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters. 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.