Key facts
- A suspected Russian Shahed-type drone violated Moldovan and Romanian airspace on Sept. 8.
- The drone entered Moldovan airspace from Ukraine at 4:20 p.m. local time and left at 4:37 p.m.
- Spanish F/A-18 fighter jets were scrambled from Mihaileni Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania.
- Romanian authorities issued emergency warnings and Iasi International Airport suspended flights.
- The drone crashed in Mihaileni Vechi, Moldova, approximately 25 kilometers east of the Romanian border.
A suspected Russian Shahed-type drone violated the airspace of both Moldova and Romania on September 8, leading to airspace closures, emergency alerts, and the deployment of NATO fighter jets. The Moldovan military detected the drone entering its airspace from Ukraine at 4:20 p.m. local time and monitored it until it exited towards Romania at 4:37 p.m.
In response, Spanish F/A-18 fighter jets, part of a NATO air-policing mission, were scrambled from Mihaileni Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania. Romanian authorities issued emergency warnings to residents in multiple regions, advising them to seek shelter, and Iasi International Airport temporarily suspended all takeoffs and landings. Romanian radar lost contact with the drone shortly after 5:00 p.m.
The drone ultimately crashed in the area of Mihaileni Vechi, Moldova, approximately 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) east of the Romanian border. This incident follows a pattern of airspace violations by Russian drones and missiles in the region, with previous incursions reported in recent months, including a drone shot down by NATO jets near the Moldovan border in August and a cruise missile entering Moldovan airspace during an attack on Odesa.