Drone Crosses Ukraine and Moldova, Crashes in Romanian Cornfield

EASTERN EUROPE — Romania’s Ministry of National Defense said on September 12 that a drone which had already crossed Ukrainian and Moldovan airspace came down in a cornfield near Botoșenița Mare in Suceava County, in northeastern Romania.

The ministry said the Air Operations Centers of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova had first notified Bucharest that the aircraft was moving toward Romania’s northeast.

Two Romanian Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft took off from the 86th Air Base Borcea to watch the track.

Romania’s National Military Command Center told the Inspectorate General for Emergency Situations to warn the public in Botoșani County. A RO-ALERT message, the country’s emergency text warning to phones, went out at 4:20 p.m. local time (1:20 p.m. UTC).

What Happened

• Moldova’s National Army Air Operations Service detected an unauthorized object at 3:26 p.m. local time on September 12 after it entered from Ukraine near Vasilcău and Băxani, and a Border Police patrol saw an unmanned aircraft.

• The object left Moldovan radar near Băxani and reappeared at 4:03 p.m. near Cuconeștii Noi, after which Chișinău closed northern and central civil airspace and later diverted or held passenger flights.

• Ukraine’s and Moldova’s air operations centers told Romania’s Ministry of National Defense that a drone had crossed both states and was moving toward northeastern Romania.

• Two Romanian Air Force F-16s launched from the 86th Air Base Borcea, and a RO-ALERT went to Botoșani County at 4:20 p.m. local time after 112 callers reported a drone over Știubieni. The alert text told people to take shelter in cellars or civil-protection shelters.

• Ministry of Internal Affairs teams found the downed object in the Botoșenița Mare cornfield, with the fire and cavity described by the ministry and with no casualties reported.

• Suceava County emergency crews marked off the field, and a prosecutor from the Suceava Court of Appeal prosecutor’s office took charge of the on-site inquiry while an Intelligence Service explosive-ordnance team was sent to the wreckage.

Locations Affected

• Botoșenița Mare, Suceava County, Romania, 47.875, 26.106: crash field marked off by county emergency crews; ministry reported no casualties; about 7 miles (12 kilometers) from the Ukrainian frontier.

• Știubieni, Botoșani County, Romania, 47.98, 26.74 (approximate, village center): village named in the 112 overhead calls and in the county that received the shelter alert.

• Vasilcău and Băxani, Soroca district, Moldova, 48.21, 28.08 (approximate, district entry area): first Moldovan detection after the object entered from Ukraine.

• Cuconeștii Noi, Edineț district, Moldova, 48.16, 26.99 (approximate, village area): second Moldovan radar contact the same afternoon.

• 86th Air Base Borcea, Fetești, Ialomița County, Romania, 44.39, 27.73 (approximate, airfield): launch base for the two monitoring F-16s.

Official Statements

• Suceava County Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, September 12: “Following a call received on 112 from a citizen, who reported that an unidentified object had fallen in a cornfield in the locality of Botoșenița Mare, Calafindești commune, crews of military firefighters and other forces and means of the Ministry of Internal Affairs went to the indicated area to carry out reconnaissance. At the site, the area was marked off and specialists from the competent institutions are awaited to evaluate the situation. The investigation is being carried out by the competent authorities, under the coordination of a prosecutor from the Suceava Court of Appeal Prosecutor’s Office.”

• Daniel Nistor, spokesperson, Romanian Ministry of National Defense, September 12: “Through the 112 unique emergency service, the presence of a drone was reported over the locality of Știubieni in Botoșani County. Following reconnaissance carried out by forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a crashed flying object was identified in the area of the locality of Botoșenița Mare in Suceava County, in a cornfield. Following the impact, a small fire occurred and a cavity with a diameter of approximately one meter and a depth of 30 centimeters was formed. No casualties were recorded. An SRI pyrotechnic team will travel to the site to evaluate the situation.”

• Romanian Inspectorate General for Emergency Situations, RO-ALERT text, September 12: “Air alarm (possible drone incursion): Remain calm; Take shelter in cellars or civil-protection shelters. In the absence of a shelter, remain inside the house, away from windows and exterior walls.”

• Romanian Ministry of National Defense, September 12: “On Saturday, September 12, the Air Operations Centers of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova informed the Ministry of National Defense that a drone had crossed the airspace of the two states, heading toward the northeastern area of Romania. Two F-16 aircraft of the Romanian Air Force took off from the 86th Air Base Borcea to monitor the situation.”

• Moldovan Ministry of Defense, via the National Army Air Operations Service, September 12: “The National Army’s Air Operations Service detected the object at 3:26 p.m., after it entered the country’s airspace from Ukraine. At the same time, a Border Police patrol spotted an unmanned aircraft.”