US reconnaissance aircraft intercepted over Black Sea

Moscow May 12 (IANS) Russia scrambled a Su-30 fighter to intercept a US reconnaissance plane over the Black Sea Defence Ministry officials said on Friday.

The Russian air control detected a target approaching the Russian border over the neutral waters of the Black Sea on Tuesday Defence Ministry officials said in a statement here.

The Su-30 fighter then took off and the pilot visually identified the air object as a US reconnaissance aircraft P-8A Poseidon at a safe distance Xinhua news agency reported.

The statement said the Russian jet performed a manoeuvre to greet the pilots of the US plane the latter then changed route and flew away from the Russian border.

The Su-30 fighter then returned to its airbase.

--IANS
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