Lithuania shut down its main Vilnius airport and closed its border with Belarus on Saturday after helium weather balloons were spotted drifting into its airspace. The NATO member announced the closures as a precaution, marking the second consecutive day of balloon sightings.
According to Reuters, officials confirmed that all flight operations at Vilnius Airport and border crossings with Belarus were suspended until 2 a.m. local time.
Balloons Blamed on Smugglers
Lithuanian authorities said the balloons were used by smugglers to transport illegal cigarettes. They also accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of ignoring repeated warnings to stop the activity. Lukashenko is known to be a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Before Saturday’s shutdown, Lithuania had already closed its key airport multiple times this month — on October 5, Tuesday, and Friday — due to similar incidents involving unidentified balloons.
Rising Tensions Over Airspace Intrusions
Lithuania’s move comes amid growing tension across Europe, where several NATO countries have faced security scares involving drones and balloons since the war in Ukraine intensified.
Last week, Germany’s Munich Airport was forced to halt operations after drones were seen near and inside its grounds. Authorities launched a large-scale search operation, deploying multiple state and federal police teams.
“The state police immediately launched extensive search operations with a large number of officers in the vicinity of the airport. At the same time, the federal police immediately carried out surveillance and search operations on the airport grounds. However, it has not yet been possible to identify the perpetrator,” the official statement read.
Drone Alerts Across Northern Europe
In September, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden also closed their airports after drones were spotted in their airspace. While the source of these drones remains unclear, speculation about possible Russian involvement has increased.
Earlier, Poland also sealed its airspace and border with Belarus after several Russian drones violated its territory. The Polish military shot down multiple drones during the incidents.
European Aviation on High Alert
These repeated air incursions have disrupted European aviation in recent weeks. Airports in Copenhagen, Munich, and the Baltic region have faced temporary shutdowns as authorities scrambled to ensure safety.
The ongoing incidents have heightened fears about airspace security in Europe, particularly near countries bordering Russia and Belarus.