Shahed drone flies through Moldova into Romania, prompting NATO jets to scramble
A Shahed-type drone flew through Moldova and crossed into NATO member Romania on Sept. 8, prompting airspace restrictions, emergency alerts and the deployment of Spanish fighter jets.
Digi24 reports this with reference to the Ministry of Defense of Moldova and local authorities.
Moldova's Defense Ministry said its air surveillance systems detected the drone entering the country's airspace from the direction of Ukraine at 4:20 p.m.
According to preliminary data, the Shahed-type drone flew through Moldova's Russian-controlled Transnistria region before heading toward Chișinău and then western Moldova.
Authorities temporarily restricted airspace over the central part of the country, forcing several civilian aircraft to remain airborne while waiting to land at Chișinău airport.
The drone left Moldovan airspace near the town of Zagarancea at 4:37 p.m. and continued toward Romania's Iași County.
Romania's Defense Ministry said its radar systems detected the aerial target at 4:47 p.m., about 18 kilometers north of the city of Roman.
Authorities issued RO-Alert emergency warnings in Iași, Suceava, Neamț and Botoșani counties and northern Vaslui County, warning residents about the possibility of falling objects and urging them to take shelter.
Two Spanish F-18 fighter jets deployed at Romania's Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base for NATO enhanced Air Policing were scrambled at 4:39 p.m. to monitor the situation.
Iași International Airport temporarily suspended takeoffs and landings because of the threat. Airport director Romeo Vatră said flights were not canceled but operations were halted until the situation could be clarified.