Press Information

A small-sized twin-engine aircraft, Beechcraft-type, with two persons onboard, flied, at low altitude, over the air space of Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Bulgaria, in the evening of 8 June.


We specify that the aircraft, which flied over the Romanian air space on route Oradea – Caransebeș - Drobeta Turnu Severin, did not display a hostile or dangerous behavior. The aircraft pilot did not respond to the radio interrogations or to the visual signals transmitted by the military interceptors, according to international rules in force.

According to the available data we have at this moment, the aircraft took off from Hungary, Debrețin area, around 17.30, without having a previously approved flight plan and without the transponder’s electronic identification equipment turned on.

The aircraft was intercepted in the Hungarian air space by two JAS 39 Gripen military aircraft belonging to the Hungarian Air Force, at 17.38. The aircraft did not respond to the radio interrogation or to the visual signals transmitted by the military aircraft.

The aircraft entered Romania’s air space around 17.49, through Oradea, being escorted by the two Hungarian military aircraft, based on the cross-border agreement signed between Romania and Hungary.

At 17.58, the Hungarian aircraft returned to the base, the target being taken over by two F-16 aircraft belonging to the US Air Force deployed to the 86th Air Base Fetești, who were on a patrolling mission in the Romanian air space.

The mission conducted by the two American aircraft was similar: radio interrogation, visual identification and escort of the target aircraft.

At 18.36, the American aircraft requested approval to return to the 86th Air Base, their air policing mission being taken over by two Romanian Air Force F-16 aircraft, which took off from the same air base.

The Romanian military aircraft intercepted the target aircraft at 18.42 and continued the interrogation and escort mission. The target aircraft, which continued to choose not to respond to the radio interrogations and the visual signals, entered Serbia’s air space around 19.00, for almost two minutes, within an area located between Drobeta Turnu Severin and Korbovo.

Around 19.09, the target aircraft crossed over Bulgaria’s air space. The two Romanian F-16 aircraft completed their air policing mission and landed at Fetești, at 19.46.

The Bulgarian authorities are currently investigating, on the ground, the area where the target was last seen in order to identify the aircraft and establish further details.

The Press Office