Russian plane changes course to avoid collision with NATO spy plane

A Russian passenger plane was forced to change course to avoid a NATO spy plane that was crossing its scheduled flight over the Black Sea, Russian authorities said Sunday.

And the Russian Federal Air Transport Authority said on Saturday evening, according to the Russian “Interfax” news agency, that the spy plane “rapidly descended” and crossed the scheduled course of the Aeroflot Airbus, which was heading from Tel Aviv to Moscow, with 142 people on board. .

"The direction and altitude of the commercial aircraft were immediately adjusted," the agency said, adding that the crew of the spy plane did not respond to messages from air traffic controllers.

According to Interfax, the Russian plane dropped 500 meters away from the reconnaissance plane and its two pilots were able to see the latter from the cockpit.

And a private plane, which was heading from the Russian sea resort of Sochi to Skopje, changed its course because of the spy plane, according to the air transport authority.

"The increased activity of NATO aircraft near the border with Russia (...) creates the risk of serious accidents related to civilian aircraft," the authority said, adding that it would "protest" through diplomatic channels.

The country of the spy plane was not specified.

But on Friday, Russian fighter planes were sent to the Black Sea region to escort two American reconnaissance planes, according to Russian media.

This incident comes in the context of growing tension between Russia and Western countries, which accuse Moscow of massing its forces on the border with Ukraine with the aim of carrying out an invasion.

Russia denies having any intention in this direction and accuses NATO countries of doubling down on "provocations", with the recent military exercises in particular near its borders in the Black Sea.

Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news