Romanian air force downs drone over southeastern region
A Romanian F-16 fighter jet has shot down an unidentified drone over an unpopulated area near Padina, marking the country's first independent aerial drone destruction.
A Romanian F-16 fighter jet intercepted and destroyed an unmanned aerial vehicle in the country's southeastern airspace near the village of Padina, located approximately 114 kilometers northeast of Bucharest. Official reports indicate that the pilot executed the shootdown around 11:00 AM over an uninhabited zone, ensuring there was no immediate danger to local populations on the ground.
The operation marks the first time Romania's air force has independently shot down a drone during flight following an airspace breach. Regional air hazard alerts were issued across southeastern Romania prior to the action. Romanian authorities confirmed that military and emergency teams have launched an investigation to identify the origin of the drone and analyze the details of the incident.
Sources: LSM
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- Jul 24, 2026, 04:00 PM UTCRomanian F-16 fighter jet downs drone in southeastern region