Drone crash in Mihăilenii Vechi shows characteristics similar to Geran aircraft

Fragments of a drone with a turbojet propulsion system, displaying characteristics similar to those of a Geran-type aircraft were discovered by police experts at the crash site outside the village of Mihăilenii Vechi, Rîșcani district. The impact with the ground caused an explosion and created a sizable crater, inside which metal balls serving as destructive elements were found.

According to the police, specialists from the Technical and Explosives Division are continuing their investigation to precisely determine the type and weight of the drone’s explosive payload.

The incident occurred after an unmanned aerial vehicle illegally entered the airspace of the Republic of Moldova from the direction of Ukraine. The drone was detected by the National Army’s air surveillance systems at 4:20 p.m.

Subsequently, the airspace in the central part of the country was temporarily restricted. At 4:37 p.m., the aircraft left the airspace of the Republic of Moldova near Zagarancea, Ungheni district, heading toward Golăiești, Iași County, Romania.

The Air Operations Service later reported that the same drone re-entered the airspace of the Republic of Moldova from the direction of Iași. The aircraft disappeared from radar in the area of Cobani village, Glodeni District, and reappeared near the city of Drochia. At 5:14 p.m., the flying object disappeared in the area of Sturzovca village, Bălți municipality.

At 5:39 p.m., the airspace in the central region was reopened. Thirteen minutes earlier, at 5:26 p.m., the North dispatch center of the National Single Emergency Call Service 112 received information about the crash of a small aircraft resembling a drone outside Mihăilenii Vechi.

Following the crash, four fires broke out in a sunflower field. Authorities announced that no one was injured.

Specialized services arrived at the scene, secured the area, and began investigating all the circumstances surrounding the incident. The police urged citizens not to approach the crash site, as specialists are continuing to examine the fragments and the crater formed by the explosion.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are also expected to determine the type and weight of the explosive payload carried aboard the drone.