Britain’s Defense Secretary announced on Thursday that a Russian fighter jet shot down a missile near a Royal Air Force aircraft operating in international airspace over the Black Sea last month.
Ben Wallace told the House of Commons on Thursday that an unarmed RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint – a type of aircraft used for reconnaissance – had “interacted” with two Russian SU-27s. One of the fighter jets “launched a missile near” the British plane, out of sight, he said.
While it’s not uncommon for planes to be shadowed in international airspace, Wallace said he suspended flights and demanded an explanation from Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
“The October 10 response from the Russian defense minister said they conducted an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and found that it was a technical malfunction of the SU-27 fighter,” he told lawmakers. “You can also tell that the incident took place in international airspace.”
Wallace said the suspended flights had resumed but were now being escorted by warplanes.
The Black Sea borders southern Ukraine and areas annexed by Russia, such as Crimea.
Russia this month blamed a technical malfunction for the crash of a Sukhoi military plane into an apartment building near Ukraine. At least 15 people died, including three who jumped from the upper floors of the nine-story apartment building to escape a massive blaze.
AFP contributed to this report.