Jet performed “aggressive and dangerous maneuvers” against aircraft conducting routine patrol operation for European Union border protection agency.
(DW) A Russian fighter jet has intercepted a Polish aircraft carrying out a routine mission for the EU border protection agency Frontex in international airspace.
The Russian fighter jet carried out “aggressive and dangerous maneuvers” by flying three times toward the border protection aircraft and came within about five meters of it, Romania’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday night (06/05).
The incident occurred on Friday around noon when a Russian Sukhoi Su-35 aircraft intercepted the Polish L410 Trubolet aircraft, only 60 kilometers from Romanian airspace and in Romania’s designated operational area.
Crew lost control of the plane
The Romanian ministry spoke in a statement released on Facebook that the Russian plane’s maneuver, which caused “strong turbulence and control difficulties” for the Polish plane. The crew temporarily lost control of the turboprop aircraft due to the turbulence triggered, causing it to lose altitude, the folder said.
The agency added that it was “only due to their excellent skills” that the pilots were able to land safely. Five people were on board – the two pilots and three border guards.
The air forces of Romania and Spain were therefore placed on a state of pre-alert, preparing fighter jets to assist the intercepted plane, although it managed to land safely at the NATO air base of Mihail Kogalniceanu, located near the Black Sea.
NATO Patrol Mission
Spain has eight F-18 fighter jets posted in Romania as part of a NATO patrol mission to reinforce the alliance’s southeastern flank near neighboring Ukraine, which Russia invaded 15 months ago.
In addition to Romania, Poland and Spain, Sweden is also participating in the Frontex air mission aimed at preventing illegal migration and fishing in the Black Sea.
In March, also in the Black Sea, a Russian fighter jet reportedly caused a US military surveillance drone “Reaper” to crash.
The US military said that the Russian aircraft dumped fuel on the American drone and then collided with it. Moscow denies that this happened and said that the drone crashed on its own.
Increasingly frequent incidents
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine’s allies have led to increasingly frequent air incidents in Europe.
Last month, Germany’s Air Force (Luftwaffe) reported intercepting three military aircraft from Russia in international airspace.
According to the German military, the Russian planes were flying over the Baltic Sea, located in northeastern Europe and whose waters are also bordered by Russia, and were traveling without transponder signals, which help identify them on air traffic control radar.
Also in the Baltic Sea, in mid-March, a German and British fighter intercepted a Russian aircraft near Estonian airspace, in an operation coordinated by NATO.
md (EFE, DPA, AFP) *** Translated by the DEFCONPress FYI Team ***