A Russian SU-35 fighter jet, like the one seen here, was involved in harassing a British reconnaissance plane last month in international airspace, Britain's Ministry of Defense said. File Photo via U.S. Air Force/UPI | License Photo
May 21 (UPI) -- Russian warplanes repeatedly harassed a British reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea, Britain said Wednesday, calling it the most dangerous incident involving a Royal Air Force Rivet Joint aircraft since 2022.
The encounter occurred last month in international airspace over the Black Sea, Britain's Ministry of Defense said in a statement. Though the exact date was not specified, the ministry said it occurred days after Defense Secretary John Healey revealed a Russian undersea operation to Britain's north on April 9.
According to ministry officials, the unarmed British jet was conducting a routine flight as part of efforts to secure NATO's eastern flank when a Russian Su-35 jet flew close enough to it to trigger its emergency systems, disabling its autopilot function.
A second Russian jet, a Su-27, also conducted six passes in front of the Rivet Joint plane, flying within 20 feet of its nose, they said.
