Russian jets hit US drone

Pilots stalk spy plane in international airspace

- CHRIS HUGHES, CHRISTOPHER BUCKTIN

TWO Russian fighter jets clashed with an American spy drone in international airspace off the Ukraine coast yesterday.

The SU-27 jets stalked the MQ-9 Reaper for 30 minutes over the Black Sea before intercepting it, the US said last night.

The Russian pilots were said to have dumped fuel on the €36million drone in mid-air.

The jets are then believed to have flown close in front of the craft and one collided with its propeller.

The US said it was forced to bring its drone down after the collision.

General James Hecker, who oversees the US Air Force in the region, said the clash "follows a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots...over international airspace".