Estonian PM thanks president after Romanian Air Force F-16 downs drone in Estonian airspace
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal held a phone conversation on Thursday with President Nicusor Dan, thanking him for the intervention of a Romanian Air Force F-16 aircraft that shot down a drone which had violated the Baltic country's airspace, the Presidential Administration said.
The military aircraft is part of the Carpathian Vipers Detachment and is deployed on an air policing mission in the Baltic states.
For the fourth time since 2007, the Romanian Air Force is providing this service. This year's mission involves six F-16 aircraft and 101 military personnel.
'A Romanian Air Force F-16 aircraft carrying out Enhanced Air Policing missions in Baltic airspace, as part of Romania's commitment to NATO collective security, shot down a drone in Estonian airspace on Tuesday, May 19. (...) Two F-16 aircraft from the Carpathian Vipers Detachment were scrambled by the Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Uedem following an Air Policing alert in the area of responsibility. The pilots identified the target and completed all identification, engagement approval and risk minimisation procedures, after which they launched an air-to-air missile, shooting down the drone,' the Ministry of National Defence said in a press release.
The Carpathian Vipers Detachment is deployed in Lithuania at the Siauliai Air Base. It is carrying out Enhanced Air Policing missions between April and July 2026.
According to Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, quoted by Reuters, the downed drone appeared to have originated from Ukraine. Since March, several Ukrainian military drones have strayed into the airspace of NATO member states Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, all bordering Russia. In Latvia, one such incident led to the collapse of the government following the resignation of the defence minister over the handling of the airspace intrusion. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Oana Ghita; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)
The content of the www.agerpres.ro website has the exclusive purpose of public informing.
All the information published on this website by AGERPRES is protected by relevant legal dispositions.
It is forbidden to copy, reproduce, recompile, decompile, distribute, publish, display, modify, create derived components or products or full services, as well as any exploitation of the site's content.
Details in the section Terms of Use. If you are interested in picking up AGERPRES news items, please contact the Marketing Department – marketing@agerpres.ro.
The use of the Comments section entails your obligation to respect the AGERPRES terms and conditions in regards to the publishing of comments on the www.agerpres.ro.
Other news in category
I proposed to Eugen Tomac to come up with anational unity government (POT's Gavrila)
The President of the Young People's Party (POT), MP Anamaria Gavrila, declared on Tuesday, after meeting with Prime Minister-designate Eugen Tomac, that she sees a deadlock regarding the list of ministers and proposed to him to come up with a national unity government, so that the parliamentary parties would assume governance. 'I had a meeting with Mr.
IMM Romania holds first edition of European Entrepreneur's Day at European Parliament
IMM Romania on Tuesday organised the first edition of the Entrepreneur's Day at European level, at the European Parliament, an initiative that brought to the fore the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the future of competitiveness and digital transformation of the European Union. According to the organisation, the event took place at a d
Sporting Excellence Gala celebrates Olt County's nationally and internationally decorated young athletes
Dozens of young athletes from Olt County who climbed national and international podiums last year - along with their coaches - were celebrated on Tuesday by the County Council at the Gala of Sporting Excellence, an event designed to spotlight performance and inspire the next generation. The evening's top distinction, a 3,000-RON award, went to table-tennis
DSU representatives join management of Vigorous Warrior 2026 exercise in Estonia
Romania's Department for Emergency Situations (DSU) is participating with its own personnel in the management structure of Exercise Vigorous Warrior 2026 (VW26), held in Estonia from June 8 to 20, the largest multinational medical exercise conducted under NATO auspices. 'The involvement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, through the DSU and the struc
Prosecutors expand investigation into sea drone that exploded in port of Constanta
Prosecutors have extended their investigation into a sea drone that exploded in the Port of Constanta, to include counts of destruction with particularly serious consequences, failure to comply with weapons and ammunition regulations, failure to comply with explosive material regulations, the Attorney General's Office announced on Tuesday. On June 5, prose
Regional medical genetics hub gets new DNA sequencing system for modern diagnostics
The Bihor Regional Centre for Medical Genetics, operating at the County Emergency Clinical Hospital, has expanded its diagnostics capacity by acquiring and implementing the Spectrum Compact CE System, a state-of-the-art Sanger sequencer for DNA analysis and molecular biology investigations, the centre reported on Tuesday. The new equipment expands the range of
Timisoara to host 'Florin Piersic 90' anniversary gala
Film lovers in Timisoara will have the opportunity on Tuesday evening to meet Florin Piersic, the actor behind some of Romanian cinema's most memorable characters, during the 'Florin Piersic 90' anniversary gala Described by organisers as a cultural heritage event, the gala continues its national tour after successful editions in Bucharest and Cluj
#NadiaYear/ Nadia Comaneci becomes UVT Liberty Marathon ambassador
Retired legendary gymnast Nadia Comaneci has become an ambassador of the UVT Liberty marathon, which will take place in Timisoara, with her signature to be printed on the medals to be handed to the winning runners, according to organisers. 'Nadia Comaneci becomes the UVT Liberty Marathon 2026 ambassador, 50 years after she made history with the 'perfec
PM-designate Tomac: This is not my government, but Romania's government
Prime Minister-designate Eugen Tomac said on Tuesday that the government he will submit to Parliament for approval is not his government, but Romania's government and that it will act in Romania's interests. 'I believe we need to be rational and understand one basic fact: at this moment, we need a government invested with full powers in order to un
UDMR's Kelemen Hunor says no vote can be promised for a Government still in formation
The Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) cannot promise a vote for the installation of a Government that is still being formed and is awaiting, ahead of future talks, the final list of ministers and the governing programme, party leader Kelemen Hunor said after consultations with Prime Minister-designate Eugen Tomac. 'At this moment I can promise o
Henri Coanda Airport becomes the first in Romania to introduce coordinated arrivals and departures
The world's largest independent airport slot coordinator, Airport Coordination Limited (ACL), will provide full coordination services at Bucharest's Henri Coanda International Airport from the 2026-2027 winter season under a multi-year agreement that will come into force on October 25, 2026, the National Company Bucharest Airports (CNAB) informs on Tuesday.
Members of Sanitas trade union of healthcare and social care employees, on Japanese strike
Members of the Sanitas trade union began a Japanese strike on Tuesday, expressing dissatisfaction with the draft of the new pay legislation. 'The Japanese strike has begun. Healthcare and social care employees are going to work. They are caring for patients, performing operations and saving lives. And they are wearing the Sanitas armband because justice do
Palace of Parliament to be illuminated in turquoise on Tuesday evening to raise awareness of Batten disease
The facade of the Palace of Parliament will be illuminated in turquoise on Tuesday evening as part of an initiative to raise awareness of Batten disease. The request, approved by the leadership of the Chamber of Deputies, was submitted by the Health Committee. The illumination is scheduled to take place between 21:30 and 23:30. 'Batten disea
Sports commentator Ilie Dobre sets new world record, acknowledged by World Record Academy
Sports commentator Ilie Dobre has set a new world record, the 11th of his career, acknowledged by the World Record Academy, for the 'longest broadcast of a goal without breathing', this time set at 42.3 seconds. Dobre's performance was recorded on April 25 at the Steaua - Corvinul Hunedoara match, in the Second League, played at the stadium on Ghen
Cosmin Pasca's 'The Pain Cave' captures the ultrarunner's top-10 finish through brutal adversity
Endurance runner Cosmin Pasca premiered on Sunday, at the 'Scala' Cinema in Zalau, the second documentary of his career, 'All the Way Through II - The Pain Cave', a film that retraces how he finished in the top 10 at Croatia's Istria 100 Miles ultramarathon (168 km) despite running almost the entire race ravaged by a virus that shut down his ability to ta