Lithuania closes Vilnius airport, NATO summons jets in response to possible drone
NATO fighter jets found the suspected drone was a flock of birds, and the alert ended after flights were suspended for 38 minutes, officials said.
- On Sunday, Lithuania closed Vilnius Airport and NATO summoned a fighter jet from Siauliai after a possible drone sighting in Lithuanian airspace, the National Crisis Management Centre said.
- Authorities issued a yellow air alert across Vilnius and surrounding districts, instructing residents to locate shelters and call 112 if they saw suspicious objects, per emergency protocols.
- The NCMC confirmed the perceived drone threat was actually a flock of birds, allowing Vilnius Airport to reopen within 38 minutes after the NATO jet made visual identification.
- Despite the alert covering the capital, the Vilnius marathon continued without interruption, and officials designated the situation 'code white,' signaling residents could leave shelters.
- Countries along the Baltics' eastern edge have reported frequent drone incursions linked to the conflict stemming from Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, posing persistent security challenges.
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The possible detection of a drone in the airspace caused concern in Lithuania and NATO - The alert ended after an hour. The post Alert in Lithuania: Vilnius airport closed - NATO took off at least one fighter appeared first on in.gr.
Alarm in Lithuania, NATO Plane Scrambled After Suspicion of Drone – Turns Out to Be a Flock of Birds
A NATO fighter jet has been scrambled over Lithuania after a report of a suspected drone in the country's airspace. The suspicious object was later identified as a flock of birds. The plane took off from Siauliai air base in northern Lithuania, and Vilnius International Airport was temporarily closed due to the alert. The alert was lifted and the airport reopened after just 38 minutes, after the NATO plane visually identified the object. Lithuan…
The second incident caused the authorities to send a yellow aerial alert to all mobile devices in the districts of Vilnius, Trakai and Elektrenai Read
Possible Drone Alert Closes Vilnius Airport, NATO Scrambles
Lithuania closed Vilnius Airport and surrounding airspace after reports of a possible drone, triggering a NATO fighter jet scramble from Šiauliai as part of the Baltic Air Defence mission before the alert was lifted and operations resumed. The episodes illustrate rising regional airspace violations linked to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with ongoing security concerns affecting travel and regional stability, though events like the Vilnius marath…
The radar signal was first reminiscent of the drone track, and NATO fighter aircraft was picked up in the air for verification.
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