Lithuania temporarily closed Vilnius Airport on Saturday night after several weather balloons drifted into its airspace from neighbouring Belarus, the National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC) announced — marking the fourth such disruption this month.
Air traffic was suspended until 02:00 local time (23:00 GMT) as a precaution. The incident follows a series of recent airspace intrusions across Europe, including drone-related shutdowns at Copenhagen, Munich, and Baltic airports.
Lithuanian authorities say smugglers often use the balloons to transport contraband cigarettes, but also accuse Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s government of failing to prevent the incursions.
Prime Minister Inga Ruginien? said on Friday that the National Security Commission will convene next week to assess the growing threat.
The repeated airspace violations come amid heightened regional tensions and have added to concerns about hybrid activities targeting EU and NATO member states along Belarus’s western border.