Vilnius Airport temporarily suspended operations on Sunday morning after unidentified objects detected in Lithuanian airspace were initially believed to be drones.
The alert prompted the authorities to close the airport and scramble at least one NATO fighter jet from Šiauliai Air Base in northern Lithuania. Italian Air Force aircraft are currently stationed there as part of NATO’s Baltic air-policing mission.
After approaching the area, the fighter visually identified the suspicious objects as a flock of birds. Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre subsequently lifted the alert, allowing Vilnius Airport to reopen after an interruption of approximately 38 minutes.
The centre explained that birds and drones can produce similar indications on radar, making immediate identification difficult. The incident nevertheless demonstrated how seriously Baltic authorities now treat any unidentified aerial activity.
Lithuania and its neighbouring NATO members have increased their vigilance following repeated incursions or suspected sightings of military drones close to the alliance’s eastern borders. The war in Ukraine has heightened concerns that unmanned aircraft could accidentally—or deliberately—enter NATO airspace.
Although Sunday’s alert proved harmless and caused only a brief interruption to airport operations, the precautionary response underlined the growing challenge facing both military authorities and civil aviation: distinguishing an ordinary radar anomaly from a potentially serious security threat.
The Vilnius marathon, taking place in the Lithuanian capital at the time, continued without interruption.
Source: Reuters