A Romanian F-16 fighter jet intercepted and destroyed a drone that had entered national airspace on Friday, marking the first such action by the NATO member after repeated prior incursions.

NATO Air Command confirmed later that day the drone was shot down by allied fighters operating under NATO command and control in Romanian airspace.

NATO stated an investigation continues and the alliance remains in close contact with Romanian officials.

Airspace violations along NATO's eastern flank have raised alarms about border security amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Drone Enters Romanian Airspace

The Romanian army chief of staff told reporters that Bucharest has not yet determined the drone's origin or intent and that probes are active.

Chief of Staff General Gheorghita Vlad indicated it appeared to be a Shahed-type device, the Iran-designed attack drones employed by Russia against Ukraine.

"Visually, the pilots reported the drone looked to be a Shahed type," he said, noting it remains too early for firm conclusions.

An army source earlier told Reuters an investigation seeks to establish the drone's origin, adding that Russia is the likely attacker in the region.

President Nicusor Dan posted on X that a Romanian pilot downed the drone around 11 a.m. after it crossed into the country.

"The area was uninhabited, so the pilot was able to shoot without any risk. Currently, teams of the relevant institutions are investigating the area to come up with all the details about the incident," Dan wrote.

The Romanian Defense Ministry reported the drone was shot down near Padina in Buzau county in the east.

It added that two Romanian F-16 jets and two Italian Eurofighter Typhoons based in Romania were scrambled after the drone was first detected by radar at 9:30 a.m. roughly 20 km east of Sulina on the Black Sea coast.

Drone fragments landed in a wheat field without causing damage or injuries, the Buzau county prefect told reporters.

Romania, which shares a 650-km (400-mile) land border with Ukraine, has recorded multiple airspace breaches by Russian drones since Moscow began striking Ukrainian ports across the Danube River after its 2022 full-scale invasion.

General Vlad noted Russian attacks on Ukraine's Odesa region have risen ahead of harvest season, increasing pressure on key Black Sea energy and trade routes.

In late May, a drone struck an apartment building in Galati near the Ukrainian border, injuring two people in the first such incident to hit a populated area in a NATO country during the Ukraine war.