The Hellenic Air Force was immediately put on alert after a Turkish unmanned aircraft (UAV) was detected entering the Athens Flight Information Region (FIR) and violating Greek national airspace.
It is reported that the Turkish drone flew over the wider sea area between Samothraki and Lemnos, triggering the immediate activation of established surveillance and interception procedures.
The Greek response was swift. A pair of F-16 fighter jets from the Air Force took off, tasked with locating, identifying and intercepting the Turkish UAV. The scramble of the Greek aircraft highlights Athens' operational readiness in the face of any activity that breaches its airspace.
A particular cause for concern was that the Turkish UAV approached an area close to the terminal runway of Alexandroupoli Airport at the very moment when an Aegean passenger aircraft was preparing for take-off.
Cooperation between the Civil Aviation Authority and the Greek fighter jets enabled the UAV to be driven away without compromising the safety of the passenger flight.
