US RC-135U Spy Plane Flies Near Sochi Before Returning to Europe
A US Air Force RC-135U reconnaissance aircraft operated a long-range mission from RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom to the Black Sea, according to data from Flightradar24.
The aircraft approached the Russian coast near Sochi before changing course back toward Europe. Its route spanned the airspace of several European countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania.
Flight Details and Route
Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 indicated that the American reconnaissance plane flew along the Crimean coast, moving close to Russia’s borders before turning westward toward its return path.
By Moscow time, the RC-135U had crossed over the borders of the Czech Republic and Germany as it continued its journey back to Britain.
Observation and Context
“Flightradar24’s publicly available data regularly records such reconnaissance missions near Russian territory, often conducted by US or NATO aircraft for surveillance purposes in the Black Sea region.”
Such flights are part of routine monitoring activities along contested or strategic areas, reflecting ongoing military observation efforts in Eastern Europe.
Author’s Summary
The US RC-135U’s path near Sochi underscores the regularity of NATO reconnaissance missions near Russian borders, reflecting sustained aerial surveillance in the Black Sea area.