Russia accuses a NATO plane of causing an emergency diversion of an Aeroflot passenger plane

MOSCOW, Dec 5 (DPA / EP) –

Russian aviation authorities have accused a NATO surveillance plane of forcing an Aeroflot passenger flight over the Black Sea to suddenly change course and altitude to avoid a collision.

According to the Interfax news agency, the Russian plane – an A330 that covered the route from Tel Aviv to Moscow – was forced to descend 1,800 meters suddenly to avoid a collision. The aircraft carried 142 passengers on board.

“The course and altitude of the civil aircraft changed rapidly. The measures taken by Russian air traffic controllers ensured the safety of flights in the area over the international waters of the Black Sea,” said the Russian civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia. .

The Russian authorities identified the NATO plane as a CL-600 Artemis whose crew did not react at any time, according to their version of events. NATO has yet to comment on this incident.