A Russian plane collides with a US drone during a maneuver in the Black Sea

MADRID, 14 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

A Russian Air Force SU-27 fighter collided on Tuesday with a United States unmanned aerial vehicle over international waters in the Black Sea, according to the US Armed Forces, which have denounced an "unsafe and unprofessional" maneuver. by two Russian planes.

The command of the US forces in Europe has confirmed this incident in a statement, which occurred early in the morning. One of the Russian fighters hit one of the drone's propellers, prompting US authorities to shoot it down at sea.

"Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and struck by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and the complete loss of the MQ-9," said Commander James B. Hecker, who has warned that there is "almost" a total clash.

Hecker has urged Russian forces to behave in a "professional and safe" manner in the area, to the extent that the United States and its allies "will continue to operate in international airspace." In this sense, Washington has denounced "a pattern of dangerous actions" by Russian pilots, at a particularly delicate moment due to the escalation of tensions around Ukraine.

In fact, the US forces fear a "miscalculation" and an "unintended escalation" of such tensions.