A Polish border guard Turbolet L410, shown here in an undated photo, was approached by a Russian Su-35 fighter during a patrol flight over the Black Sea on May 5, 2023. Polish authorities said the Russian plane flew without any radio contact and then performed three aggressive and dangerous approaches toward the Polish aircraft. (Polish Border Guard)
STUTTGART, Germany — NATO put its fighter jets on heightened alert last week after a Russian warplane and a Polish aircraft nearly collided over the Black Sea, the U.S.-led alliance said Tuesday.
The encounter involved a Polish border guard plane that was carrying out a mission in connection with a European Union Frontex border agency initiative, according to Polish authorities.
A Russian Su-35 jet flew within about 15 feet of the Polish plane, carrying out “aggressive and dangerous maneuvers” causing the Polish air crew to briefly lose control of the aircraft, Polish border guard spokeswoman Anna Michalska said in a statement.
A NATO official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in accordance with NATO policy, said the alliance remains vigilant in the aftermath of the episode.
Such encounters have occurred from the Baltics to Syria, where U.S. pilots have had numerous close calls with Russian planes.
Friday’s episode near Romania follows a pattern of actions in the Black Sea and elsewhere by Russian pilots that U.S. military officials have deemed dangerous.
Two months ago, a Russian fighter pilot intentionally struck a U.S. drone over the Black Sea, causing the unmanned aircraft to crash.
NATO has a standing air policing mission that calls for allied jets to scramble when there are signs of Russian planes operating in unpredictable ways along its eastern flank.
On Monday, a contingent of U.S. Air Force F-22 fighters was dispatched to Estonia for a quick-reaction deployment to bolster NATO’s air policing efforts there.
While Romania serves as a hub for those efforts in the south, allies have a similar mission that covers the Baltics.
The transfer of planes to Estonia highlights the operational readiness of NATO allies, U.S. Air Forces Europe and Africa said Monday in a statement.
The Romanian Defense Ministry said Monday that the incident last week happened 40 miles from its airspace and involved “aggressive and dangerous maneuvers” by the Russian fighter that were “totally unacceptable.”
It slammed “the provocative approach of the Russian Federation in the Black Sea.”
