Nato Falcons and Hornets scrambled after unknown target detected near Romanian border
Multiple Nato fighter jets were scrambled in response to an unknown object flying in an area off the Black Sea.
Four Spanish and Romanian aircraft were deployed after the army detected a small air target about 45km east of Sfântu Gheorghe, triggering the air force to respond.
Due to concerns that the unknown object was heading towards Romanian territory, the Nato jets were sent to monitor the situation.
The Romanian MOD said: "On Saturday 19 October around 2.30am, the Romanian army's radar surveillance system indicated a small air target in an area off the Black Sea, about 45km east of Sfântu Gheorghe, Tulcea County.
"As a result of the fact that the detected target was evolving on a route directed towards the state border of Romania, the structures in the Extended Air Police Combat Service under Nato command, and later, Air Police under national command, were activated, according to the procedures.
"Thus, in order to monitor the situation, two F-18 aircraft of the Spanish Air Force were successively taken off, from the 57th Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, respectively two F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force, from the 86th Borcea Air Base.
"The aerial surveillance radars continuously followed the target's route, which evolved towards Cogealac, Cluj County. The combat aircraft did not have visual contact with it at any point on the evolution route.
"The surveillance system lost the radar signal south of Cogealac, around 4.30am."
The aircraft involved in the incident were part of Nato's air policing mission to protect the alliance's airspace.
The Spanish Air Force had taken over the duties in Romania from the Royal Air Force in the summer.
Previously, Nato jets had been forced to respond to Russian attack drones venturing too close to the border of Romania, with one object briefly entering its airspace.
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