Big Problems at Mach 3: How an SR-71 Blackbird Suffered a ‘Catastrophic Engine Explosion’

Big Problems at Mach 3: How an SR-71 Blackbird Suffered a ‘Catastrophic Engine Explosion’

Summary and Key Points: On June 29, 1987, an SR-71 Blackbird suffered a catastrophic engine explosion during a “Baltic Express” mission, forcing it into a vulnerable descent over Swedish airspace. Normally invulnerable at Mach 3, the crippled spy plane was a prime target for Soviet MiG-25s until four Swedish JA-37 Viggen pilots intervened. SR-71 Photo Taken September 26, 2025. Image Credit: National Security Journal. -Recognizing the emergency, …