Romanian F-16 shoots down drone in uninhabited area of Buzău county, first such interception

The interception

At approximately 11:00 local time on 24 July 2026, a Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter jet shot down an unidentified drone that had violated Romanian airspace. President Nicușor Dan announced the interception around 11:30, specifying that the drone was downed over an uninhabited area in Buzău county, near the locality of Padina Pogoanele. The president explained that the pilot was able to engage the target from above precisely because the zone was empty, eliminating any risk to civilians on the ground. This is the first time a drone has been shot down by Romanian military aviation, according to G4Media sources.

We had a drone in our airspace. It was shot down a few minutes ago, around 11:00, by a Romanian pilot on an F-16. It's important to note that the area was uninhabited, which is why he was able to fire from above, and now institutional teams are investigating all the details of the incident.

RO-Alert warnings across the southeast

Prior to the interception, authorities issued RO-Alert emergency messages to mobile phones in at least five counties: Galați, Brăila, Buzău, Ialomița, and also Călărași and Tulcea. The alerts warned of possible falling objects from the airspace and instructed residents to seek shelter immediately. The message, sent by the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (ISU), advised people to remain calm, take cover in basements or civil protection shelters, or stay indoors away from windows and exterior walls, with an estimated duration of 90 minutes. Residents in Râmnicu Sărat (Buzău) and Slobozia (Ialomița) confirmed receiving the alert around 11:00.

There is a possibility of objects falling from the airspace. Keep calm! Take shelter in basements or civil protection shelters. If no shelter is available, stay inside the house, away from windows and exterior walls. Estimated duration: 90 min.

Overnight Russian strikes near the border

The drone incursion came after a night of Russian drone attacks on civilian and infrastructure targets in Ukraine, close to the river border with Romania. The Romanian Ministry of National Defence (MApN) reported that radar surveillance systems detected a group of aerial targets approximately 33 kilometres north of the Romanian border just after midnight. In response, the Romanian Air Forces scrambled an IAR-330 PUMA SOCAT helicopter at 00:50 to monitor the evolving situation. The proximity of the strikes to Romanian territory prompted heightened vigilance along the border.

Investigation and official response

President Dan stated that teams from competent institutions are on the ground in Buzău county to collect evidence and determine the drone's origin and flight path. He later posted a message on X reiterating that the pilot opened fire without risk because the area was uninhabited. No casualties or property damage have been reported. The Ministry of National Defence has not yet released additional details about the drone's type or the exact engagement sequence.

This morning, around 11:00, a Romanian pilot aboard 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 open fire without any risk. Currently, teams from the competent institutions are conducting investigations in the area to establish all the details of the incident.