A Russian Su-27 aircraft intentionally collided with a US MQ-9 Reaper Drone on March 14, 2023, while both were flying over international waters in the Black Sea.
The Russian jet dumped fuel on the drone before hitting its propeller, causing the US Army to bring it down.
The incident, which occurred during routine operations, was considered an unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians and could have caused both aircraft to crash.
The Russian Ambassador to the US was summoned and questioned by the US government.
Russia claimed that the area was identified as a zone for special military operations and the US drone was warned not to enter.
The incident has raised concerns about a possible escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war.
The drone, which cannot be recovered as it fell into the deep waters of the Black Sea, was not being used for spying.