Pentagon-Russian Fighter Struck US Drone Which Came Down In Black Sea

The US military has confirmed that a Russian fighter jet struck the propeller of a US Reaper drone, resulting in the drone being brought down over the Black Sea west of the Crimean peninsula.

• Jeff Seldin at VOA News: "Russian Su-27 collides with US MQ-9 drone over the Black Sea Per US European Command, the Russian aircraft was 1 of 2 conducting " an unsafe & unprofessional intercept" when it struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing US forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in int'l waters"Before Russia|n Su-27 hit the US MQ-9 drone, "the [two] Su-27s dumped fuel on and flew in front of the MQ-9 in a reckless, environmentally unsound and unprofessional manner" per USEU COM.
• "Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in int'l airspace when it was intercepted & hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash & complete loss of the MQ-9" per US Air Forces Europe & Air Forces Africa Cmdr Gen. James Hecker. US commander warns the Russia|n Su-27 was almost lost, as well. "This unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash" per Gen Hecker. US EUCOM says the incident " follows a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots...over intl airspace"