On July 24, 2026, a Romanian F-16 fighter jet intercepted and shot down an unidentified drone that had entered the country's airspace. Romanian President Nicusor Dan confirmed that the incident occurred around 11:00 a.m. local time. The operation was conducted over an uninhabited area near the town of Padina in Buzau County, ensuring no risks to the civilian population.

While the origin of the drone remains officially unconfirmed, NATO and Romanian authorities have launched an investigation into the matter. NATO Air Command confirmed that the shoot-down was executed by allied forces operating under its control, noting that two Romanian F-16s and two Italian Eurofighter Typhoons were scrambled in response to the incursion. Although no direct source of the drone has been cited by the government, military sources have pointed to the ongoing conflict context in the region.

Romania, a NATO member sharing a 650-kilometer border with Ukraine, has previously faced several airspace violations by drones. Authorities are currently processing evidence from the site to determine the drone's origin and potential military links.