Mission aborted

A US Navy P-8A Poseidon took off this morning from NAS Sigonella for a planned surveillance mission over the Black Sea, but the flight was abruptly aborted only minutes after departure.

According to its initial routing, the aircraft was expected to reach the Black Sea area after crossing Greece and Bulgaria, following the usual corridor used for maritime patrol and ISR operations in support of NATO’s eastern flank. However, shortly after leaving Sicily, the Poseidon turned back and returned toward Sigonella instead of continuing northeast.

At the same time, a USAF KC-135R (reg. 63-8878) tanker that had departed from RAF Mildenhall to provide air-to-air refuelling support over Romania also aborted its mission. The tanker reversed course over central Europe and headed back to the UK as soon as the Poseidon’s mission was declared cancelled.

Such coordinated activity between P-8A patrol aircraft and KC-135 tankers is standard during long-endurance missions over the Black Sea, where tanking support is required before entering the operational area. Today’s simultaneous decision to recall both assets indicates that the mission was stood down before the operational phase began.

The reason for the cancellation remains unknown at this time.