Vilnius Airport grounds flights again after suspected Belarusian balloons detected

Flights at Vilnius International Airport were halted for the third time in a week on Friday after unidentified airborne objects — believed to be balloons launched from Belarus — were spotted near the airport’s airspace.

Operations were paused at around 18:00 local time as aviation authorities imposed temporary airspace restrictions. The incident follows a string of similar disruptions in recent months, which Lithuanian officials have linked to what they describe as Belarus-orchestrated hybrid tactics.

Airport officials said on social media that the latest shutdown was the result of a “hybrid attack carried out by Belarus against Lithuania,” echoing long-standing concerns that weather balloons are being used by smugglers to transport illicit cigarettes across the border with Minsk’s tacit approval.

Lithuania has reported a surge in such balloon incursions this year and tightened border controls in response. In October, the government closed its remaining border crossings with Belarus, reopening them only last week after a brief lull in incidents.

Vilnius is not alone in confronting unidentified objects in sensitive airport airspace. European hubs, including Copenhagen and Brussels, have recently experienced short-term shutdowns triggered by drone or object sightings.

Minsk denies any wrongdoing. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed Lithuania’s accusations as “a crazy scam,” claiming instead that Western nations are waging a hybrid war against Belarus and Russia.

The European Union is preparing additional sanctions on Belarus, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Dec. 1, citing what Brussels views as deliberate attempts to destabilise Lithuania.

Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) said earlier that about 320 flights have been affected by balloon incursions this year, resulting in estimated financial losses exceeding €750,000 for the airport operator and its partners.