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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. local time in an uninhabited region, allowing the pilot to engage without risk. Authorities are investigating the area to determine the drone's origin, which remains unconfirmed but is believed to be either Ukrainian or Russian. The shoot-down 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. The event highlights ongoing airspace security concerns near the Ukraine-Romania border amid the war in Ukraine.
Source report
Romanian President Nicușor Dan reported the incident via 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.
Key Details
- Origin of the drone: Not yet confirmed. It is highly probable that it belonged to either Ukrainian or Russian forces.
- Previous incident: At the end of May 2026, a Russian drone crashed on Romanian territory, striking a residential building. That drone was identified as a Russian Geran-2, modelled on the Iranian Shahed-136.
By Patryk Jagnieża 24 July 2026, 11:25
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