Turkey Investigates 'Terror' UAV Allegedly Made by Russia After Shooting Down a Drone from the Black Sea

JAKARTA - Turkish authorities have opened an investigation into a drone that crashed in northwestern Turkey, just days after the country shot down another drone that entered its airspace from the Black Sea.

Residents in Kocaeli province found the damaged UAV in a field, which prompted an official investigation, according to NTV news channel and other reports.

Initial assessments indicate the aircraft is likely a Russian-made Orlan-10 reconnaissance drone, the Ministry of the Interior said. An investigation is underway.

Earlier on Monday this week, Turkish F-16 fighter jets intercepted what officials described as an "out-of-control" drone after it violated the country's airspace.

The defense ministry said the drone was destroyed in a safe location to protect civilians and air traffic. The Turkish government then warned Russia and Ukraine to be more careful in maintaining the security of the Black Sea.

The shooting came after a series of Ukrainian attacks on Russia's "shadow fleet" of tankers off the coast of Turkey, which raised concerns in Turkey about the risk of the war in Ukraine spreading to the region.

The defense ministry said the drone shot down on Monday likely broke into small pieces scattered over a large area, making it difficult to identify it.

Efforts to search and technical analysis are still ongoing, the ministry said.