Russian jets dumped fuel in front of US drone before crash which could lead to 'unintended escalation'

A Russian aircraft has collided with a US unmanned aircraft in international airspace over the Black Sea, causing it to crash.

Two Su-27 planes had attempted to intercept the US drone - named MQ-9 - by dumping fuel in front of it several times before the collision.

At approximately 7.03am CET (6.03am GMT) one of the Russian aircrafts struck the propeller of the MQ-9 drone, causing US forces to bring the unmanned aircraft down.

A statement from US European command described the Russian manoeuvres as reckless, unprofessional and environmentally unsound.

The drone was on a routine flight in accordance with international laws to bolster collective European defence and security, it said.

This is the latest in a series of dangerous Russian piloting, the statement said, which could lead to "unintended escalation".

US Air Force General James Hecker described the incident as an "unsafe and unprofessional act by the Russians" which has led to the complete loss of an MQ-9.