NATO fighter jets were scrambled on Thursday morning after a possible threat was detected over Latvian airspace, as detailed by Express. A yellow-level airspace warning was issued for the Kraslava and Rezekne regions, which are located in eastern Latvia.
Latvia’s National Armed Forces announced the warning, as reported by the country’s public service broadcaster LSM. The warning was lifted in less than an hour.
Residents were not told to take any immediate action, since a yellow warning is mainly meant to keep people informed about a potential threat. If the situation had escalated, people in the affected areas would have received an emergency notification on their mobile phones with instructions on what to do.
Latvia’s airspace has seen plenty of drone activity this year
Latvia’s military said it is continuing to monitor the country’s airspace alongside its NATO allies so it can respond quickly to potential threats. Additional military units have also been deployed to strengthen air defenses along Latvia’s eastern border.
The latest warning comes amid ongoing concerns about drones entering or getting too close to Latvian airspace. Latvia’s military has warned that more incidents involving foreign unmanned aircraft are possible while the conflict in a neighboring country continues.
Latvia uses a two-level mobile warning system for potential air threats. A yellow warning is an information notice that requires no immediate action, while an orange warning means a threat has been detected and residents must follow instructions from authorities.
During an orange warning, people in the affected area may be told to stay indoors and keep at least two walls between themselves and the outside. Drivers are advised to quickly assess the situation and either drive toward a safe location or leave their vehicle and find the nearest shelter.
On the night of March 25, a drone crashed in the Kraslava region. LSM reported that the aircraft was involved in an operation from a neighboring country against Russia.
Several more warnings followed in May. On May 7, two drones crashed into an empty oil base in Rezekne, and another drone crashed and exploded in Lake Dridzis.
NATO aircraft have also been deployed over Latvia before. On June 8, French allied fighter jets shot down a drone that had entered Latvian airspace.
On August 14, NATO Baltic Air Policing fighters shot down another drone that had flown into Latvia from abroad, over Rugaji parish in the Balvi region. Authorities determined it was a Ukrainian drone that had entered Latvia from Belarus, most likely after being disrupted by Russian electronic warfare.
Published: Oct 22, 2026 07:45 am