Romania's Defence Ministry scrambled fighter jets twice overnight to intercept drones near the country's territory, as fears of a wider conflict with Russia continue to grow. The NATO member detected a group of air targets near Serpents Island as well as a drone above Romanian territorial waters.
Two interceptions overnight
In a statement, the Defence Ministry said: "On the night of October 14 to 15, the radar surveillance system of the Ministry of National Defence detected a group of air targets near Serpents Island."
Two F-18 aircraft of the Spanish Air and Space Forces, operating in the Reinforced Air Police combat service, took off from the 57th Mihail Kogalniceani Air Base in response.
At 1.34am, a drone was detected for around one minute in national airspace, southeast of Sulina, above Romanian territorial waters, after which it disappeared from radar.
Alert message sent to public
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: "Subsequently, following the reporting of other air targets approximately 77km east of Snake Island, two Romanian Air Force F-16 aircraft, from the 86th Air Base in Fetesti, were scrambled."
The National Military Command Center notified the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations to institute measures to alert the population north and east of Tulcea County, and at 4.57am an RO-Alert message was sent.
There were no other reported incursions into the national airspace, and the alert was ceased at 5.46am.
