Romania on alert, F-16 neutralizes second drone to violate airspace within hours

Romania has entered a state of high alert following a new serious air incident near the border with Ukraine. An F-16 fighter jet of the Romanian Air Force was forced to intervene to identify and destroy a drone that had illegally entered the national airspace.

According to the Ministry of Defense, radar surveillance systems detected on Saturday, July 25, at around 08:22, a new violation of our airspace by an unmanned vehicle in the eastern border area. This unauthorized flight came just a few hours after a similar incident, adding pressure on the authorities in Bucharest.

Immediately after detection, two F-16 Fighting Falcon jets, which were on duty as part of the Air Policing mission, scrambled to intercept the target. They followed standard protocols for identification and neutralization of the threat, shooting down the drone. The ministry’s official statement confirms that the unmanned aircraft was destroyed by one of the Romanian fighters.

This rapid succession of incidents has deepened concerns that the conflict in Ukraine is spilling over its borders, bringing instability to the region. Romania, as a NATO member state, has intensified defensive measures near Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion, after several instances of drone incursions near Alliance airspace.

Meanwhile, Romanian investigators are treating the event as part of a possible hybrid attack and are continuing uninterrupted sky patrols along the eastern border of the North Atlantic Alliance.