A Polish plane on a mission for Frontex was intercepted over the Black Sea on Friday by a Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter, according to Romania, which denounced “a totally unacceptable aggressive behavior” by Moscow.
Romania’s defense ministry said in a statement on Saturday that a Polish Border Guard plane conducting a routine patrol in cooperation with Bucharest was the target of “repeated dangerous maneuvers” by an “irresponsible” Russian pilot.
The plane managed to land in Romania after “initial altitude loss” and after “severe control problems” due to the “turbulence” caused by this situation.
This incident is “further evidence of Russia’s provocative approach to the Black Sea,” Bucharest accused.
Frontex – the European Border and Coast Guard Agency – contacted the AFP agency and did not immediately respond and the Polish Border Guard declined to comment, citing “a statement to be published on Sunday”.
According to Romanian authorities, the unarmed Polish aircraft was “monitoring the migration risk” about 60 kilometers east of Romanian airspace, in international airspace.
He will be deployed from April 19 to May 17, as part of an operation organized by Romania and coordinated by Frontex, with Spain and Sweden participating.
Source: DN
