On May 20, 2026, the UK Ministry of Defence issued an official statement announcing the dangerous interception of two Russian Su-35 and Su-27 fighter jets by a Royal Air Force RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft. The incident occurred back in April, but was only made public now.

The British aircraft was conducting a routine flight in international airspace over the Black Sea as part of NATO's mission to secure the alliance's eastern flank. The reconnaissance aircraft was unarmed.

According to the British Defense Ministry, one of the Russian Su-35s approached the RAF aircraft so closely that it triggered its emergency systems and disengaged the autopilot. The second fighter, an Su-27, made six passes in front of the reconnaissance aircraft, with the distance between the aircraft at one point being just 6 meters.

The Russian side has not yet commented on these accusations.