Following a controversial interception manoeuvre by a Russian fighter jet that came dangerously close to a Polish plane, Frontex has temporarily suspended patrol flights by the Polish plane concerned.
The Polish border guard aircraft had been on patrol for the EU's border agency over the Black Sea near Romania, when it narrowly avoided a collision with a Russian fighter jet on Friday, according to Poland's border guard.
"Dangerous event involving a border guard plane and a Russian fighter," the Polish Border Guard tweeted. "The Russian SU35 flew without radio contact into the operational area designated by Romania [and] performed aggressive and dangerous maneuvers, as a result of which the crew lost control and altitude."
As a result of the incident, Frontex has suspended air patrols by the Polish aircraft. All other patrol flights will continue as planned, the European border surveillance agency reported on Monday. This decision was taken jointly, a Polish Border Guard spokeswoman said.
A spokesman for the Government of Poland called the manoeuvre by the Russian plane a provocation.
Meanwhile, NATO has stepped up surveillance of its airspace.
