NATO surveillance jets patrol western Black Sea as Romania tightens airspace controls

Two NATO surveillance aircraft, operated by the United States and Italy, have been observed circling over the western part of the Black Sea near Romania’s coastline and close to the Romanian-Ukrainian border.

The Italian aircraft, a Gulfstream G550 AEW operated by the Italian Air Force, reportedly departed from an airbase in Rome and is currently flying in circular patterns at an altitude exceeding 12,000 metres, covering a portion of the airspace above the sea, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Russian state news agency.

Meanwhile, according to real-time flight tracking data, a U.S. Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft entered Romanian airspace from a base in Sicily. Its flight path extends close to Ukraine’s border, raising attention amid heightened surveillance activity in the region.

Earlier, a source within the Bucharest flight information region said that Romanian air traffic controllers had imposed flight restrictions over the western Black Sea until April 30. The measures follow recent sightings of a British reconnaissance aircraft in the area.

The restrictions do not apply to state or special aviation operations, nor to flights involved in search and rescue missions or emergency situations.

According to the same source, two of the restricted zones are located near the borders with Ukraine and Moldova. Additional airspace limitations remain in force over Romania due to the potential presence of unmanned aerial vehicles.

By Aghakazim Guliyev