NATO scrambles jets after drones breach Latvian, Estonian airspace

NATO fighter jets scrambled over Latvia and Estonia early Tuesday after unmanned aerial vehicles approached or entered the airspace of both Baltic states, prompting emergency warnings and shelter-in-place orders for residents in border regions, according to local authorities cited by public broadcasters LRT and ERR.

Latvia orders shelter amid airspace threat

Latvia’s National Armed Forces issued a warning over a potential airspace threat in the northeastern Aluksne municipality, activating the NATO Baltic air-policing mission to scramble fighter jets overnight. Approximately 90 minutes earlier, authorities had issued and later canceled a lower-level yellow warning in the Ludza municipality. Residents were advised to remain indoors, close windows and doors and follow the "two-wall principle," keeping two walls between themselves and the potential threat, while the Aluksne warning remained in effect until 4.17 am local time. The incidents follow repeated airspace warnings in Latvia’s Latgale and Vidzeme regions this summer, as foreign drones — believed to be involved in the Russia-Ukraine war — have previously crashed and exploded inside the country, and NATO aircraft have shot down unmanned vehicles during previous alerts.

Estonia tracks Russian-launched drones near Narva

In neighboring Estonia, Russian-launched drones briefly approached the town of Narva while another crossed into southeastern airspace, Estonian Air Force commander Brig. Gen. Riivo Valge told public broadcaster ERR. About 10 drones were detected near the border at around 2 am local time while Ukraine was carrying out a large-scale drone attack against Russia, he added. At approximately 3 am local time, one drone turned toward Narva, prompting authorities to issue a public warning and activate ground-based air defenses as fighter jets took off from Amari Air Base, though the device later turned back toward Russia without entering Estonian airspace.

About 30 minutes later, another drone crossed into southeastern Estonia and flew for a time in the border area, displaying unpredictable behavior before eventually leaving without crashing. Estonian fighter jets did not open fire, and the warning was lifted after the situation across the border calmed at around 5 am local time, according to the commander. Valge said the situation was calm Tuesday and urged Estonians to focus on the start of the school year.