Greek authorities scramble after Turkish Bayraktar drone flies over central Aegean

Greek authorities remained on constant alert after a Turkish Bayraktar drone appeared late Thursday over the central Aegean, north of Ikaria. The flight reportedly violated air-traffic rules because the aircraft had not submitted a flight plan.

The report portrayed the incident as another challenge from Ankara, rather than an isolated episode. It linked the flight to an earlier case in which a Turkish drone approached the terminal area of Alexandroupoli’s Democritus airport.

That earlier drone’s path reportedly coincided with the planned takeoff of a civilian flight. Air-traffic controllers and military authorities intervened immediately to prevent an accident, according to the account.

Greek fighter aircraft responded to the latest flight by taking off to identify and intercept the Bayraktar. The Hellenic National Defence General Staff tracked the drone’s movements minute by minute.

Defence analysts cited in the report said Turkey’s repeated use of drones offered a relatively inexpensive but highly provocative way to maintain tension in the Aegean and test Greek air-defence responses. Athens was expected to submit formal diplomatic protests and raise concerns with international organisations and NATO over the reported risks to flight safety in the southeastern Mediterranean.