Russian jet dumped fuel on drone and then...: US military on UAV crash over Black Sea

Following a direct confrontation between Russian fighter jets and a US surveillance drone over the Black Sea on 14 March 2023, the Pentagon recounted its side of the story, laying the blame on Moscow.

Brig Gen Patrick Ryder, Press Secretary at the Department of Defense said, "At approximately 7:03 a.m. Central European time, one of the Russian SU-27 aircraft struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters."

"Several times before the collision, SU-27 dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless and unprofessional manner," he added.

Ryder concluded by saying, "We assess that it likely caused some damage to the Russian aircraft as well. This incident demonstrates a lack of competence in addition to being unsafe and unprofessional."

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