Greece scrambles F-16s after drone reported from Turkey flies near Alexandroupolis airport
Greece scrambled F-16 fighter jets after a drone reported to be from Turkey entered airspace near Alexandroupolis airport in the country's northeast, according to military and media accounts. The drone was said to have flown close to the runway as a passenger aircraft was preparing to depart. Greek authorities described the response as immediate, with the air force mobilised as the aircraft was detected near the border area.
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State broadcaster ERTnews said the drone had illegally penetrated Greek airspace near the port city of Alexandroupolis, which lies close to the Turkish border. It reported that the drone flew near the runway while a passenger plane was preparing to leave, and that F-16s on standby took off straight away. Another report said two F-16s were scrambled, while the passenger aircraft was instructed to use a different runway and remain at low altitude until the area was clear.
A military source said the incident was not serious, but added that the air force responds to incidents and daily interceptions in Greece's northeast and in the southeast over the Aegean Sea. Greek authorities have counted an increasing number of drone incursions since 2025, according to the report. The episode comes as European countries remain on heightened alert for drone activity after several recent incidents linked to the war in Ukraine, where armed unmanned aircraft have become a central feature of the conflict.
The case also sits within the wider and long-running tensions between Greece and Turkey, which are both NATO members but have disputes over land and sea boundaries. Those disagreements have repeatedly shaped military readiness in the eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean region. The latest incident is likely to add to concerns about how quickly airspace violations can affect civilian aviation near sensitive border areas.
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Alexandroupolis has become strategically significant because of its location in Greece's northeast, close to Turkey and near key transport routes. Any airspace breach in that area can trigger a rapid military response because of the proximity of civilian flights and the broader security environment. The reported use of fighter jets also underlines how even a short-lived drone incursion can prompt immediate interception measures.
What remains unclear is the drone's exact origin, its flight path, and whether it was operating under any official or commercial purpose. It is also not clear whether the aircraft was recovered or identified after the incident. Further official comment would be needed to confirm the full sequence of events and whether any additional air safety measures will follow.
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