Kathimerini: Greek F-16s intercept Turkish drone northwest of Samothrace

Greek F-16 fighter jets intercepted a Turkish drone in the northeastern Aegean on August 28, after it entered the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) and violated Greek airspace, Kathimerini reports.

The Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was flying over the sea between the islands of Samothrace and Lemnos when the Greek Air Force scrambled two F-16s to locate, identify and intercept it.

The incident raised particular concern because the drone moved close to the departure flight path of Alexandroupolis airport as an Aegean passenger aircraft was preparing to take off.

Co-operation between Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority and the military allowed the UAV to be moved away without affecting the safety of the passenger flight.

As a precaution, the passenger aircraft was instructed to use a different flight path and maintain a low altitude until it had cleared the area. It subsequently resumed its normal flight to Athens International Airport.

By Aghakazim Guliyev