Romania said a Polish plane was intercepted over the Black Sea on Friday by a Russian fighter jet.
A Polish aircraft on a mission for Frontex was intercepted Friday over the Black Sea by a Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter plane, according to Romania, which denounced “totally unacceptable aggressive behavior” from Moscow.
A plane belonging to Polish border guards, which was carrying out a routine patrol in cooperation with Bucharest, was the victim of “repeated dangerous maneuvers” by an “irresponsible” Russian pilot, the Romanian Defense Ministry said on Saturday in a press release.
“Further evidence of Russia’s provocative approach”
He managed to land in Romania after an “initial loss of altitude” and then “serious control difficulties” due to the “turbulence” caused by the situation. This incident is “further proof of Russia’s provocative approach to the Black Sea”, Bucharest said.
Contacted by AFP, the European external borders agency Frontex did not respond immediately. Polish border guards declined to comment, saying “a statement will be released on Sunday.”
According to Romanian authorities, the unarmed Polish plane “monitoring the migratory risk” was about 60 kilometers east of Romanian airspace, in international airspace.
He has been deployed in Romania since April 19 and until May 17 as part of an operation organized by Romania and coordinated by Frontex, in which Spain and Sweden participate.
