Russian fighter jet fired missile near UK plane over Black Sea

A Russian fighter jet fired a missile near an unarmed British aircraft patrolling in international airspace over the Black Sea, in what UK Defense Minister Ben Wallace described as a “potentially dangerous” incident.

Wallace told Parliament on Thursday the encounter took place Sept. 29 and prompted Britain to temporarily suspend patrols in the area.

According to the minister, the RAF RC-135 aircraft was on routine patrol when it was “shadowed” by two Russian SU-27 fighter jets, one of which released a missile in the vicinity of the British plane.

The minister said the incident was not deemed a “deliberate escalation,” but he shot off a letter to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu, to express his concern.

“In my letter I made clear the aircraft was unarmed, in international airspace, and following a pre-notified flight path,” he said.

Russia sent back a reply Oct. 10, saying the missile firing was a “technical malfunction,” and Wallace said British experts have come to the same conclusion.

“(Russia) also acknowledged that the incident took place in international airspace,” he added.

UK patrols over the Black Sea have since resumed but are now being accompanied by fighter aircraft escorts, Wallace said.

“Everything we do is considered calibrated with regard to ongoing conflict in the region and in accordance with international law,” the minister added.

The apparent missile glitch comes amid escalating tensions between Russia and the West over the war in Ukraine, which has recently entered a brutal new phase marked by relentless attacks on the country’s infrastructure and key utilities.

Concerns have been raised that Russian President Vladimir Putin, facing a potential embarrassing defeat on the battlefield, could detonate a nuclear warhead over the Black Sea as a warning sign to NATO.

With Post wires