Russian Jet’s Collision With US Drone ‘Another Reckless Act’: Schumer

Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D.N.Y.), blasted Russia for downing a U.S. drone in March 14.

U.S. European Command (EUCOM) announced that two Russian Su-27 fighters intercepted an unmanned intelligence-gathering MQ-9 aircraft over the Black Sea, hit and damaged it, forcing the United States to shoot down the drone into the sea.

“Our MQ-9 aircraft was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft, resulting in a crash and complete loss of the MQ-9,” U.S. Air Force Major James Hecker, the commander U.S. Air Forces Europe, and Air Forces Africa made this statement.

“In fact, this unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians nearly caused both aircraft to crash.”

Schumer made the following remarks in a speech delivered to the Senate Floor: “This intercept was so dangerous and so brazen that the U.S. Air Force was forced to crash their drone into international waters.”

“It is another reckless act by [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin and his military.”

Schumer had a message of support for Russia’s president.

“Now I want to tell Mr. Putin, ‘Stop this behavior before you are the cause of an unintended escalation,'” He stated.

“We have seen this behavior from the Russian military before and it will not deter the United States from conducting operations over the Black Sea. These aggressive actions by Russian aircraft are risky and could lead, I repeat, to unintended escalation,” Schumer spoke.

“The United States has routinely flown over the Black Sea since before Putin’s illegal and reckless invasion of Ukraine. And I’m confident our military will continue to do so.”

Hecker confirmed that the United States will continue to fly military aircraft over the Black Sea.

“U.S. and Allied aircraft will continue to operate in international airspace and we call on the Russians to conduct themselves professionally and safely,” He stated.

EUCOM says “This incident follows a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots while interacting with U.S. and Allied aircraft over international airspace, including over the Black Sea.

“These Russian aircrew actions can be dangerous.”

The Russians have not recovered the drone, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Gen. Pat Ryder.

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. David Berger said on March 14, “The biggest concern for me, both in the Pacific as well as there, is an aggressive Russia/China pilot or vessel captain. This could lead to a collision that causes two in the morning. We’re trying hard to figure out how to fix this as quickly as we can.

“I really worry about that,” During an event at The National Press Club, he spoke. “In other words, either intentionally or unintentionally, things bumping into each other, causing a collision, and then two great nations—powerful nations—trying to sort it out at two in the morning.”

Berger informed The Epoch Times following the event that it was not possible to activate Article 5 of NATO charter.

Article 5 provides that an attack against one member country is an assault on all members.

He stated that this was due to the act of being “over water, which isn’t NATO territory,” And that it happened in “international airspace over international water.”