Latvia and Estonia Scramble Jets After Drone Incursions

Latvia and Estonia issued airspace warnings on September 1, 2026, after drones linked to the Russia-Ukraine war approached or entered their borders. The incidents occurred during a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack against Russia, leading to heightened military alerts across the Baltic region.

In Estonia, the Estonian Air Force detected approximately 10 drones near the border. One drone approached the town of Narva, triggering ground-based air defenses and jet scrambles from Amari Air Base, while another drone crossed into southeastern Estonia before exiting the airspace. Brigadier General Riivo Valge confirmed that fighter jets did not open fire during these incursions.

Simultaneously, Latvia detected potential threats in the Alūksne and Ludza municipalities. These events prompted the NATO Baltic air-policing mission to scramble fighter jets and led Latvian authorities to advise residents to remain indoors. These incursions follow a summer of repeated airspace warnings and drone crashes in the Latgale and Vidzeme regions of Latvia.