Two Russian warplanes “dangerously” intercepted an unarmed Royal Air Force reconnaissance plane over the Black Sea last month, the Ministry of Defense said Wednesday.
A Russian Su-35 fighter jet approached the reconnaissance aircraft close enough to activate its emergency systems, while a Su-27 fighter jet performed six passes in front of it.
The Ministry of Defense said Rivet Joint was conducting regular international flights to support NATO’s eastern flank security.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner called the incident “really serious” and pointed to the possibility of heightened tensions between Russia and NATO.
