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In first, NATO fighters in Romania shoot down drone in airspace incursion

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A Romanian F-16 fighter jet shot down a drone that had entered the country's airspace, marking the first such incident for the NATO member.
  • NATO Air Command confirmed the drone was downed under its command and control, and an investigation is underway to determine its origin and purpose.
  • While the drone's origin is unconfirmed, it visually appeared to be a Shahed-type drone, commonly used by Russia in its attacks on Ukraine.

In a significant first for the NATO alliance, a Romanian F-16 fighter jet shot down a drone that had breached the country's airspace on Friday. This marks the initial instance of a NATO member state taking such action following numerous airspace incursions.

The area was uninhabited, so the pilot was able to shoot without any risk. Currently, teams of the relevant institutions are investigating the area to come up with all the details about the incident.

— Nicusor DanPresident Nicusor Dan describes the circumstances of the drone being shot down.

Later that day, NATO Air Command verified that allied fighters, operating under NATO command and control, had downed the drone within Romanian airspace. An investigation is currently in progress, with the alliance maintaining close contact with Romanian authorities. Airspace breaches along NATO's eastern flank have heightened concerns about the security of the alliance's borders amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The Romanian army's chief of staff, General Gheorghita Vlad, stated at a news conference that the drone's origin and purpose remained undetermined, though preliminary visual assessments by pilots suggested it resembled a Shahed-type drone, which has been utilized by Russia in its operations against Ukraine. "Visually, the pilots reported the drone looked to be a Shahed type," he noted, cautioning that it was too early to draw definitive conclusions.

Visually, the pilots reported the drone looked to be a Shahed type.

— General Gheorghita VladThe Romanian army's chief of staff provides a preliminary identification of the downed drone.

An army source had earlier indicated to Reuters that an investigation was underway to ascertain the drone's origin, adding, "But in this part of the world it is Russia that is the attacker." President Nicusor Dan reported on social media that the drone was shot down around 11 a.m. in an uninhabited area, posing no risk to civilians. The Romanian Defense Ministry confirmed the drone was downed near Padina in Buzau county, with two Romanian F-16 jets and two Italian Eurofighter Typhoons scrambled in response. Fragments of the drone fell on a wheat field but caused no damage or injuries.

But in this part of the world it is Russia that is the attacker.

— Army sourceAn unnamed army source comments on the likely perpetrator given the geopolitical context.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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