‘Serious risk of escalation’: Russian jets ‘dangerously’ intercept UK aircraft over Black Sea

Two Russian fighter jets “repeatedly and dangerously” intercepted a British surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea last month, the UK defence ministry said on Wednesday. Defence Secretary John Healey called the incident “dangerous and unacceptable”, warning it risked accidents and escalation. According to the ministry, Russian Su-35 and Su-27 jets approached an unarmed Royal Air Force Rivet Joint aircraft operating in international airspace, with one Su-27 flying within six metres of the British plane’s nose during the encounter.