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Romanian F-16 shoots down drone violating airspace
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On July 24, 2026, a Romanian F-16 fighter jet shot down a drone that violated Romanian airspace, as confirmed by President Nicușor Dan on social media. The incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. in an uninhabited area, allowing the pilot to engage without risk. Romanian authorities are investigating the scene. The drone's origin remains unconfirmed, but it is highly probable it belonged to either Ukrainian or Russian forces. The event coincides with an air raid alert in Kyiv, Ukraine, due to a Russian attack. This follows a previous incident in May 2026, when a Russian Geran-2 drone (modeled on the Iranian Shahed-136) crashed into a residential building in Romania.
Source report
Romanian President Nicușor Dan reported the incident on the X platform.
“This morning, around 11:00 a.m., a Romanian pilot in an F-16 aircraft shot down a drone that had entered our country’s airspace. The area was uninhabited, so the pilot was able to fire without any risk involved. Currently, teams from institutions with relevant responsibilities are investigating the area to provide all the details about the incident.”
At the same time, an air raid alert was declared in Kyiv, Ukraine, due to a Russian attack.
The origin of the drone has not yet been confirmed. It is highly probable that it belonged to either Ukrainian or Russian forces.
It is worth noting that at the end of May this year, a Russian drone crashed on Romanian territory, striking a residential building. It was identified as a Russian Geran-2, which is modelled on the Iranian Shahed-136.
By Patryk Jagnieża
Tags: F-16 | RUSSIA | ROMANIA | DRONES | UKRAINE | WAR IN UKRAINE
Source
Defence24.comRegional
Part of this Story
Romania Shoots Down Unidentified Drone Over Its Airspace for First Time