Smuggling balloons disrupt operations at Vilnius airport, again

Flights were temporarily restricted at Vilnius Airport overnight from Sunday into Monday after suspected smuggling balloons were detected.

The restrictions were introduced at 01:18 in the morning, after navigation signals consistent with the presence of balloons were detected in areas posing a risk to aviation. Operations at the airport resumed at 04:00 after the airspace restrictions were lifted.

The temporary restrictions affected five flights and around 453 passengers.

Four aircraft were diverted to other airports, including two to Kaunas, while one flight was cancelled.

Passengers whose journeys were disrupted or whose flights were cancelled have been advised to contact their airlines directly.

The airport's operations were last disrupted in May. This year, activities at the capital's airport have been disrupted nine times because of the threat posed by smuggling balloons.

The head of Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, said five suspected smuggling balloons had been recorded overnight in the Vilnius and Šalčininkai districts.

"The number of balloon flights and their geographical spread were not particularly intensive last night," he told LRT Radio.

Vitkauskas said the balloons were tracked landing west and north-west of the capital, and authorities are currently searching for any cargo they may have been carrying.

According to him, the balloons crossed the flight path used by aircraft approaching Vilnius Airport.

"This is where aircraft make their turn before landing. That area posed the greatest risk," he said.

Lithuanian officials regard such incursions into the country's airspace as part of a hybrid attack by the regime in Minsk.

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