Turkey announces the downing of an “out of control” drone. Aircraft under NATO command involved in the mission

Authorities in Ankara announced that they shot down a drone over the Black Sea as it approached Turkish airspace.

Turkey announced the downing of an area over the Black Sea. PHOTO: Facebook/Cosma Marin

Turkey announced on Monday, December 15, that it had shot down an “out of control” drone that was approaching its airspace over the Black Sea. The information was confirmed by the Ministry of Defense in Ankara, in a statement quoted by Agerpres.

According to the Turkish authorities, the intervention was decided to prevent any risk to national security.

“To prevent any untoward consequences, the drone was shot down in a secure area, away from any inhabited areas,” it is stated in the press release of the Ministry of Defense, which did not provide details regarding the exact origin of the aircraft.

According to the authorities it is in Ankara, “an air trail (…) was detected and tracked as part of routine procedures” above the Black Sea, and subsequent checks showed that this “corresponding to an out-of-control drone.”

Following the assessment of the situation and to prevent any risk, the Turkish Air Force was put on alert.

“To ensure the security of the airspace, our F-16 planes, placed under NATO command and under national command, were deployed on an interception mission”, the Ministry of Defense of Turkey also transmitted.

The incident takes place in a tense regional context, marked by the intensification of attacks in the Black Sea area.

We remind you that on Saturday, December 13, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned against the risk of the Black Sea becoming a “confrontation zone” between Russia and Ukraine after several recent strikes on commercial and military ships.