Two Russian jets intercepted a British RAF Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft above the Black Sea, prompting condemnation from the UK Ministry of Defence. The incident, deemed 'dangerous and unacceptable,' involved a Russian Su-35 jet flying dangerously close to the unarmed aircraft, triggering its emergency systems. This escalation follows previous Russian submarine activity near critical undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic.

• 01A Russian Su-35 jet flew so close to the RAF Rivet Joint that it disabled the aircraft's autopilot.
• 02The incident is the most dangerous interception involving British reconnaissance aircraft since a missile was fired in 2022.
• 03Defence Secretary John Healey criticized the Russian pilots' actions as creating a serious risk of accidents.
• 04The RAF Rivet Joint was conducting a routine surveillance mission in international airspace.
• 05Healey praised the professionalism of the RAF crew for continuing their mission despite the threats.

The incident raises concerns about the safety of RAF operations and the potential for military escalation in the region.