Romanian Air Forces alerted after detecting ‘aerial target with features of weather balloon’

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) - Romanian Air Forces were alerted after the detection of an “aerial target with features of a weather balloon,” by the country’s air surveillance systems, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

Two Mig-21 warplanes that took off as part of the NATO-led Air Policing Combat Service did not confirm the presence of the target visually or with onboard radars, it said in a statement.

“The aircraft were maintained in the area for almost 30 minutes until the full clarification of the situation, after which they returned to the air base,” it said.

The ministry said Romanian Air Forces permanently monitor the national air space and the proximity area in cooperation with NATO forces.​​​​​​​