A Russian fighter jet last month released a missile near an unarmed British spy plane in international airspace over the Black Sea, Defense Secretary Ben Wallace told Parliament on October 20.
Wallace told lawmakers Russia had blamed the September 29 incident on a technical malfunction and British aircraft were now being accompanied by fighter jet escorts.
He said the U.K. suspended patrols following the incident and had voiced its concerns to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
"A reply by the Russian Minister of Defense on the 10th of October, stated that they have conducted an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and stated it was a technical malfunction of the SU 27 fighter," Wallace said.
"They also acknowledged that the incident took place in international airspace."
Britain "has shared this information with allies and, after consultation," Wallace said, adding that routine patrols have restarted.
