Romania’s Air Force intercepted and downed an unauthorized drone over its national airspace on Friday, marking the first such incident in the country’s history. A Romanian F-16 fighter jet destroyed the drone near Padina, Buzău County, in an unpopulated area. The event triggered a swift response, including the scrambling of NATO and Romanian F-16 aircraft and the issuance of RO-Alert messages to citizens. Authorities have recovered fragments believed to be from the drone but have yet to identify any markings. The interception garnered reactions from Romanian officials and European leaders, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praising the Romanian military’s intervention. An investigation is underway to determine the drone’s origin and purpose.