Russian Fighters Force RAF Plane Emergency

Two Russian fighter jets carried out what the UK has described as dangerous interceptions of an unarmed Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea last month, according to the Ministry of Defence.

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The incident involved a British RC-135W Rivet Joint intelligence aircraft operating in international airspace as part of a routine mission supporting NATO’s eastern flank.

British officials said a Russian Su-35 fighter jet approached the aircraft closely enough to trigger its emergency safety systems, temporarily disabling the plane’s autopilot. A second aircraft, a Su-27, reportedly made six separate passes directly in front of the RAF aircraft, at one point coming within six metres of its nose.

Rising tensions over the Black Sea

UK Defence Secretary John Healey condemned the manoeuvres as “dangerous and unacceptable”, praising the RAF crew for what he described as their professionalism during the encounter.

Healey said the incident highlighted the risks posed by Russian military activity near NATO operations.

“These actions create a serious risk of accidents and potential escalation,” he said.

The Ministry of Defence described the interceptions as the most serious Russian aerial encounter involving the RAF since 2022, when a Russian pilot fired a missile near another Rivet Joint aircraft over the Black Sea.

British and foreign office officials have since summoned representatives from the Russian embassy and called on Moscow to condemn the conduct of its pilots.

Concerns over Russian military activity

The latest confrontation comes amid broader concerns in London and among NATO allies over increased Russian military activity around Europe’s borders.

The MoD pointed to recent Russian submarine operations near critical underwater infrastructure in the North Sea as further evidence of heightened aggression.

Officials stressed that the RAF aircraft involved in the Black Sea incident was unarmed and flying legally in international airspace.

Despite the encounter, the UK said it would continue surveillance and support operations alongside NATO allies.

“We remain committed to defending NATO, our allies and our interests from Russian aggression,” Healey said.

Echoes of the 2022 missile incident

The encounter has drawn comparisons with a September 2022 incident involving another RAF Rivet Joint aircraft over the Black Sea.

At the time, a Russian pilot fired two missiles towards the British aircraft. Russia initially claimed the launch resulted from a technical malfunction.

However, later reports citing Western defence sources said the missile firing followed confusion over instructions received from a Russian ground station, suggesting the pilot may have misunderstood an order.

The UK government publicly accepted Moscow’s explanation at the time in an effort to avoid escalation.

The RAF’s RC-135W Rivet Joint aircraft, operated by No. 51 Squadron from Lincolnshire, is used for signals intelligence missions. According to the RAF, the aircraft collects and analyses electronic signals to provide strategic and tactical intelligence in real time.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 21 May 2026