China News Network, March 3 Comprehensive report, on the 16th local time, US and Russian military aircraft met over the Black Sea, and the US drone then fell into the sea. On the 14th, the US European Command released a video of the encounter between US and Russian military aircraft at that time. A senior U.S. official argued that the video "absolutely confirmed" that a physical collision and fuel dumping had occurred.
Image source: Screenshot of CNN report
According to CNN, the Pentagon said the incident lasted 30 to 40 minutes, and the newly released video showed key moments in it.
The video shows a Russian Su-27 fighter jet, gradually approaching the American MQ-9 Reaper drone. During the interception of American drones, Russian Su-27 fighters "dumped fuel."
GIF: CNN video screenshot
The report also said that when the Russian Su-27 fighter jet approached again, it once again "dumped fuel". Subsequently, the Russian Su-27 fighter jet "collided" with the American MQ-9 Reaper drone, causing damage to the propeller and interrupting the video of the drone. However, CNN also pointed out that Russia denied that there was a "collision".
GIF: CNN video screenshot
CNN then said that with the propeller damaged, as the drone descended over the Black Sea, the drone operator operated the plane as if it were a glider, allowing it to land in waters southwest of Crimea.
Two U.S. officials told CNN that during the descent, operators remotely removed sensitive software from the drone, reducing the risk of secret materials falling into "enemy hands." A senior Biden administration official also said the video "absolutely confirmed" that a physical collision and fuel dumping occurred, but failed to confirm the pilot's intentions.
As for the specific situation of this incident, the United States and Russia are currently disagreeing on each other. According to a statement issued by the Russian Ministry of Defense on the 14th, on the morning of the same day, the airspace monitoring equipment of the Russian Aerospace Forces recorded that over the Black Sea in the Crimean Peninsula, an American MQ-9 "Reaper" drone flew towards the Russian border, while the transponder on board was turned off. In order to identify the aggressor, the Russian air defense force duty unit sent fighters into the air. At about 9:30 Moscow time, the American MQ-9 Reaper drone lost control and lost altitude sharply due to violent maneuvering, and then crashed into the water. The statement stressed that the Russian fighter did not use airborne weapons, did not make contact with the drone, and returned safely to the base airfield.
On the 15th, during a call with US Secretary of Defense Austin, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also said that the cause of the incident was "the US side did not abide by the relevant regulations of the Russian side announcing the establishment of flight restricted zones when conducting special military operations, and increased intelligence activities aimed at Russian interests." Shoigu also said that Russia is "not interested in the development of events, but will continue to respond accordingly to all provocations."