US MQ-9 Reaper UAV on a combat mission (Photo: US Air Force).
In an interview on March 15, White House spokesman John Kirby confirmed that the MQ-9 Reaper UAV has not yet been recovered after falling into the Black Sea due to a collision with a Russian Su-27 fighter jet on March 14.
"It has not been recovered. I'm not sure we'll be able to recover it. It went down in very, very deep water in the Black Sea. We're still looking at options for recovering it. But the best option may not exist. We're doing everything we can to prevent intelligence from getting out," Kirby said.
Mr. Kirby said that US officials had conveyed a message to Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov.
"Our message to the Russian ambassador is that they need to be more careful when flying in international airspace, especially when flying near US aircraft," Mr. Kirby added.
Previously, in a statement released on March 14, General James B. Hecker, Commander of US Air Forces in Europe and Africa, confirmed that an MQ-9 Reaper drone of this country crashed into the Black Sea after colliding with a Russian Su-27 fighter jet.
"At approximately 7:03 a.m. this morning, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with the propeller of an MQ-9 UAV, forcing the US forces to land the aircraft in international waters in the Black Sea. Several times before the collision, the Russian Su-27 fighters dumped fuel and flew in front of the MQ-9 UAV in a careless, inappropriate, and unprofessional manner," General Hecker stated.
According to the US Air Force, at least two Russian Su-27 fighter jets were involved in the incident on March 14. The Russian aircraft also suffered some “unspecified losses” and landed at a military base in Crimea. The US military has not yet been able to recover the MQ-9 Reaper UAV that crashed into the Black Sea.
The Russian Defense Ministry later denied the US accusations. According to Moscow, the MQ-9 Reaper UAV crashed into the sea because the US pilot lost control. Russia also affirmed that its aircraft "did not use weapons or approach the US UAV". In addition, Russia accused the US UAV of "moving closer to the border of the Russian Federation".
Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said the incident on March 14 was "an act of aggression". However, Mr. Antonov affirmed that "Russia would not want a direct confrontation with the US".
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