US fighter jet nears collision with Russian An-30 aircraft in Syria

Deputy Head of the Russian Reconciliation Centre in Syria, Capt. 1st Rank Oleg Ignasyuk has said that a US-led coalition F/A-18 fighter-bomber approached dangerously close to An-30 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces over the Al-Tanf area in Syria's Homs province.

The Russian crew took timely action to avoid a collision, Caliber.Az reports, citing Russian media.

The incident occurred at an altitude of 6,700 metres. The F/A-18 approached the An-30, which was on a routine flight over Syrian airspace. The Russian crew, demonstrating high professionalism, took the necessary measures to prevent the collision.

Ignasyuk noted that the Syrian airspace regulations were violated by coalition aviation within 24 hours in the Al-Tanf area, namely, by F-15 fighter jets, Typhoon fighter jets, F/A-18 bombers and A-10 attack aircraft. Additionally, there were six breaches of the de-confliction protocols dated December 9, 2019, involving unauthorised drone flights not coordinated with the Russian side.