A drone intrusion into Moldovan airspace on September 12 triggered temporary flight restrictions and several delays at Chișinău International Airport. Moldovan authorities confirmed the event, while neighboring Romania also launched a military response.
Parts of the airspace closed as a precaution
Authorities said a drone entered northern Moldova from Ukraine and was detected over several areas. Restrictions were imposed in northern and central sectors before being lifted around 4:20–4:30 p.m.
Flights delayed at Chișinău
A flight from Sharm el-Sheikh had to hold over Romania before continuing to Chișinău. Departures to Bucharest, Istanbul and Alicante were also temporarily held on the ground.
Romanian F-16s scrambled
Romania’s Defence Ministry said two F-16s were launched to monitor the air situation, and an emergency alert was issued in Botoșani County. An object was later found crashed in a field near Botoșenița Mare in Suceava County.
Why it matters
The incident illustrates how spillover from the war in Ukraine can directly affect civilian aviation in neighboring states even when restrictions remain brief. A short closure can still delay arrivals, departures and overflights because controllers must first separate civil traffic from the unidentified object and then rebuild the normal flow.
Sources
Moldpres; Romanian Ministry of Defence; Agerpres; Logos Press.
Related: Moldova: drone delays Zelensky flight to Oslo, another recent drone-related disruption in Moldovan airspace.
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