Russia intercepts British spy plane over Black Sea, ministry confirms incident

British Royal Air Force Surveillance Aircraft Intercepted by Russian Jets Over Black Sea

A British Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft, known as a Rivet Joint plane, was intercepted twice by Russian jets in April over the Black Sea. The Ministry of Defence stated that the incident occurred while the unarmed aircraft was conducting routine surveillance in international airspace to secure NATO’s eastern flank.

According to the ministry, a Russian Su-35 aircraft repeatedly flew close to the British plane, triggering emergency systems on board. A Russian Su-27 conducted six passes, flying within 6 metres (less than 20 feet) of the Rivet Joint’s nose. Defence and foreign ministry officials have formally complained to the Russian embassy about the incident.

The Ministry of Defence described the intercepts as “dangerous” and stated that they posed a serious risk of accidents and potential escalation. The incident is being seen as one of the most dangerous Russian actions against a UK surveillance plane since 2022, when a nearby Russian plane released a missile over the Black Sea due to a technical malfunction.

The incident comes days after Defence Minister John Healey announced that the Royal Navy had tracked and “seen off” three Russian submarines on an alleged monthlong covert operation in Atlantic waters. The monitoring operation involved around 500 personnel and saw UK aircraft fly over 450 hours while a navy frigate covered several thousand nautical miles.

The Ministry of Defence has issued a statement expressing concern about the incident and reiterating its commitment to defending NATO, allies, and interests from Russian aggression.

Source: Al Jazeera