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British fighters scramble after drone crashes in Romania
Bucharest, April 25 (AFP) Apr 25, 2026
Two British fighter jets scrambled and Romanian authorities on Saturday evacuated more than 200 people from a zone where a drone crashed after Russian strikes in neighbouring Ukraine, authorities said.

Romania, a NATO member, has repeatedly seen its airspace violated and drone fragments fall on its territory since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

But President Nicusor Dan said: "This is the first incident where Romanian property has actually been damaged, a threshold we take very seriously."

Foreign Minister Oana Toiu summoned the Russian ambassador, a statement said.

Romania's defence ministry said in a statement the incident happened that after "Russian forces resumed drone attacks against civilian and infrastructure targets" in Ukraine.

"A drone crashed in a populated area," with a "possible explosive charge," emergency services said in a separate statement.

No casualties were reported, but an electricity pole and a house outbuilding were damaged, authorities said, adding that gas supplies had been cut as a precautionary measure.

Two British Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets based at Borcea in Romania as part of a NATO force scrambled after the incident, the defence ministry said.

Britain's defence ministry denied reports, however, that the planes shot down Russian drones.

In 2025, Romania adopted a law authorising it to shoot down drones that violate its airspace, but no such action has been taken so far.


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