Turkish drone enters Greek airspace near Alexandroupolis airport

A Turkish drone illegally entered Greek airspace in northeastern Greece, approaching the vicinity of Alexandroupolis airport as a passenger plane was preparing for takeoff. The incident triggered an immediate response from the Hellenic Air Force.

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A Turkish drone illegally entered Greek airspace, near Alexandroupolis (northeast), causing the immediate mobilization of air forces.

Alert F-16 fighter jets were scrambled and quickly intercepted the Turkish drone. According to public broadcaster ERTnews, the drone came close to the runway just as a commercial airliner was set to depart. The drone subsequently left Greek airspace, heading towards the Greek island of Samothraki.

Despite the drone's proximity to the runway, the safety of the passenger aircraft was not compromised. The airliner took off from a different runway and proceeded to its destination in Athens. A Greek military source described the event as not serious, categorizing it among the daily incidents and interceptions the Greek military regularly handles in the Aegean.

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Greek F-16 fighter jets on alert took off immediately and, within minutes, approached the Turkish drone, proceeding to identify and intercept it.

This incident occurs within a context of heightened tensions, with Greek authorities reporting a significant increase in Turkish airspace violations in 2026. Data indicates a sharp rise in such incursions, particularly involving drones, over the Aegean Sea compared to previous years.

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It is not a serious incident. It falls into the category of daily incidents and interceptions carried out by the Greek army, either in the northeast or southeast (Aegean).