Russia says airliner had to lose height to avoid NATO spy plane By Reuters

MOSCOW (Reuters) -A Russian Aeroflot airliner flying from Tel Aviv to Moscow was pressured to alter altitude over the Black Sea as a result of a NATO CL-600 reconnaissance airplane crossed its designated flight path, Russia’s state aviation authority mentioned on Saturday.

The state airline mentioned flight SU501 carrying 142 passengers had needed to drop 2,000 toes on Friday after air site visitors management advised it that one other plane had crossed its path.

The crew had been capable of see the opposite airplane once they handed within the sky, it mentioned in a separate assertion.

The aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, mentioned a smaller CL-650 plane flying from the Black Sea resort of Sochi to Skopje had additionally needed to change its course.

It didn’t say which NATO member the reconnaissance plane belonged to. Russia’s Defence Ministry mentioned on Friday it had scrambled fighter jets to escort two U.S. army reconnaissance planes over the Black Sea.

The U.S. Embassy in Moscow made no quick remark in regards to the incident when it was first reported by the Interfax information company.

Rosaviatsia mentioned a rise in flights by NATO plane within the area was creating dangers for civilian planes and that Moscow deliberate to lodge a diplomatic grievance over them.

Worldwide tensions have been rising over Ukraine and the Black Sea area.

Kyiv and NATO powers accuse Russia of increase troops close to Ukraine, sparking fears of a potential assault. Moscow denies any such plan and accuses Kyiv of increase its personal forces in its east, the place Russian-backed separatists management a big a part of Ukrainian territory.