Russian jet and U.S. Air Force drone collide over Black Sea A Russian fighter jet collided with an unmanned U.S. Air Force drone over the Black Sea Tuesday, according to the U.S. military. After being damaged, the drone's controllers let it glide into international waters. David Martin reports. "CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell" delivers the latest news and original reporting, and goes beyond the headlines with context and depth. Catch the "CBS Evening News" weeknights at 6:30 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network and at 10 p.m. ET on the CBS News app. On Tuesday, a Russian Su-27 fighter jet collided with a U.S. military drone over the Black Sea, resulting in the loss of the drone, according to U.S. officials. The drone was conducting routine operations in international airspace when it was intercepted and hit by a Russian aircraft. Two Russian fighter jets were involved in the incident, with one striking the drone's propeller. The collision made the drone "unflyable," and officials crashed it into the sea. The White House called the Russian plane's intercept of the unmanned aircraft "reckless." The U.S. Air Force General James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa, said that the Russians' unsafe and unprofessional act nearly caused both aircraft to crash. European Command said that before the collision, the jets dumped fuel on the drone and flew in front of it "in a reckless, environmentally unsound, and unprofessional manner." Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters during a Pentagon briefing that the Russian jet was likely damaged in the incident, but it did land afterward. He wouldn't say where the jet landed. Ryder also referred to the unmanned aircraft as an MQ-9 but not a Reaper. The U.S. uses MQ-9 Reapers for both surveillance and strikes and has operated the drones in a variety of locations, including the Middle East and Africa. Reapers can be armed with Hellfire missiles and can fly for more than 1,100 miles at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet, according to the Air Force. The drone in Tuesday's incident was conducting an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance mission. Moscow denied causing the drone to crash and called the drone an "intruder" heading toward Russia's border. The State Department summoned Russia's ambassador to protest Tuesday's intercept. The incident makes clear that Vladimir Putin is an adversary, said Sen. Roger Wicker, the committee's top Republican.