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US Air Force drone forced down over Black Sea — statement

It is reported that there have been other such incidents, but this one was noteworthy since it was "unsafe and unprofessional"

WASHINGTON, March 14./TASS/. Russian SU-27 fighter aircraft conducted an intercept with a US reconnaissance unmanned MQ-9 aircraft, forcing it down over the Black Sea, the United States European Command reported on Tuesday.

"At approximately 7:03 AM (CET) (9:03 a.m. Moscow time - TASS), one of the [two] Russian Su-27 aircraft struck the propeller of the MQ-9, causing U.S. forces to have to bring the MQ-9 down in international waters," says a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, AFP reported an incident with a US-made drone Reaper in airspace over the Black Sea. No details were given.

US President Joe Biden was briefed about the incident, US White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby told a briefing. There have been other such incidents, but this one was noteworthy since it was "unsafe and unprofessional," Kirby said. While there have been other such intercepts, but this one was "unsafe and unprofessional," Kirby said. "So, it’s unique in that regard," he added.

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