World
CROSS-SPECTRUM
Russian warship fires emergency rocket that narrowly misses Danish helicopter in international waters
A Danish helicopter on a routine photo mission over a Russian warship was nearly hit when the ship launched an emergency rocket that passed just meters away.
While flying about 150 meters above the sea southeast of Gedser, a Danish helicopter was photographing a Russian warship when the vessel fired an emergency rocket that streaked past the aircraft at close range. The crew reported no provocative behavior and said the mission was conducted as usual. Similar photo missions have been carried out against the same frigate repeatedly since 2022.
Why it matters
It shows how routine surveillance can quickly become hazardous, raising the risk of accidental escalation between NATO and Russia.
In this story
russian warshipemergency rockethelicopterinternational watersgedserclose passroutine mission150 meters altitude2022 frigate missions
