U.S. Military Planes Enter Austrian Airspace, Prompting Fighter Jet Interceptions

The Austrian Air Force scrambled Eurofighter Typhoons on two consecutive days to intercept U.S. military aircraft that entered the country's airspace without authorization. The incidents occurred on May 10 and 11, with the planes identified as U-28A Draco turboprops used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). On the first day, the intercepted aircraft turned back towards Munich after being identified, while the second day saw a higher-priority response due to unclear clearance status. Austria is addressing the matter through diplomatic channels, with no reports of unauthorized flights over Switzerland during the same period. The U-28A Dracos are equipped with advanced sensors for ISR missions, and their activity in the region has increased recently.