A Russian plane harassed and then collided with a US drone over the Black Sea on Tuesday, forcing the US to shoot down the MQ-9 Reaper drone in international waters, the US European Command said.

“Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and struck by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and the total loss of the MQ-9,” said Air Force Gen. USA James B. Hecker, Cmdr. of the US Air Forces in Europe and the Air Forces of Africa. «In fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians almost caused both planes to crash.»

Two Russian Su-27 jets tracked the US surveillance drone as it flew in international airspace over the Black Sea, which borders Turkey, Ukraine and Russia, among other countries. Prior to the collision, the aircraft «refueled and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, unprofessional and unecological manner,» according to a US European Command statement.

An MQ-9 Reaper flies a combat mission over southern Afghanistan.Lt. Col. Leslie Pratt / US Air Force Archive

At approximately 7 a.m., one of the aircraft struck the drone’s propeller, forcing the United States to shoot it down.

The European Command statement said the incident «demonstrates a lack of competence» on the part of the Russians «as well as being unsafe and unprofessional,» and is part of a pattern of dangerous behavior by Russian pilots while interacting with allied aircraft. americans.

Hecker said: «American and allied aircraft will continue to operate in international airspace and we call on the Russians to conduct themselves in a professional and safe manner.»

The United States said it routinely flies aircraft in Europe in both sovereign and international airspace in accordance with international law and with the approval of host nations «to strengthen the collective European defense and security» and «support the national objectives of the allies, partners, and the United States.” ”