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.
This post was published on 25 October 2025 22:10
An American Airlines Boeing 787-8 registered N806AA arriving from Barcelona suffered a tyre failure after…
Norwegian will launch four European routes in 2027, connecting Oslo and Copenhagen with Seville, Copenhagen…
Qatar Airways plans to launch three weekly flights between Doha and Western Sydney International Airport…
Norwegian will launch several new European routes for summer 2027, including direct flights from Oslo…
The failed drone attack targeting a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport has taken…
Lufthansa Group launched its first group-level consumer advertising campaign on 21 October, seeking to raise…