Bucharest once again activated its public warning system after a drone violated Romanian airspace. The incident occurred on the morning of September 24, amid continued attacks on Ukrainian territory near the Romanian border.

 

On the morning of September 24, the radar system of Romania’s Ministry of National Defence detected an aerial target that was located on Ukrainian territory near the Romanian border, in the northern part of Botoșani County. According to the Romanian Ministry of Defence, the target subsequently crossed the border and entered Romanian airspace.

To monitor the situation, two Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jets were scrambled from Borcea Air Base. The aircraft were on standby as part of the country’s air-policing mission. The National Military Command Centre notified the civil protection authorities, after which a RO-Alert warning was sent at 06:26 to residents of Botoșani and Suceava counties.

According to subsequent information from the Ministry of Defence, the drone remained in Romanian airspace for approximately four minutes before crashing near the town of Solca in Suceava County. Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel cordoned off the crash site and found a small unmanned aerial vehicle. There were no fires, casualties or material damage reported.

At 07:21, an IAR-330 SOCAT helicopter was scrambled from Bacău Air Base to provide additional monitoring of the area. Romanian authorities continued to examine the crash site and clarify the circumstances of the incident.

The incident in Suceava occurred almost simultaneously with another air alert. During the night of September 23–24, Romanian radar systems detected a group of aerial targets north of Chilia Veche, on Ukrainian territory near the Romanian border. Two Spanish F-18 fighter jets participating in NATO’s enhanced air-policing mission were scrambled from Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base to monitor the situation. At 04:41, a RO-Alert message was sent to residents in northern Tulcea County, while the alert was lifted at 05:44.

The latest incidents have renewed attention to Romania’s readiness to counter the growing drone threat. On September 23, Romanian President Nicușor Dan said that the country had significantly improved its ability to respond to such threats, including through US assistance and equipment designed to detect and intercept drones. At the same time, the president acknowledged that Romania is still not fully prepared to deal with a large-scale drone threat.

According to Dan, the challenge is relatively new not only for Romania but also for other countries. The president said that Washington is supporting Bucharest in developing capabilities to detect and destroy drones, while stressing the need for European countries to further strengthen their defence capabilities.

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 23, Dan also said that Romania is directly experiencing the consequences of the war in Ukraine due to repeated violations of its airspace. He described Black Sea security as one of the key elements of regional stability and said that Romania, Bulgaria and Turkiye are working together on mine countermeasures in the Black Sea and the protection of critical underwater infrastructure.

 

The latest drone incursion into Romanian airspace demonstrates the continuing pressure on the country’s air-surveillance system. For Bucharest, the issue is particularly significant as Romania is a NATO member on the Alliance’s eastern flank and shares a border with Ukraine. Repeated aerial incidents require both stronger national capabilities to detect and counter drones and continued coordination with NATO allies.

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24.09.2026 08:50