BREAKING: Lithuania has closed its main airport, Vilnius, for the third consecutive night due to balloons flying in from Belarus, raising urgent safety concerns. The closures, confirmed by officials just hours ago, are set to impact 47 flights from 9:42 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. tomorrow, as authorities grapple with this unusual and alarming situation.
Officials state that these helium-filled balloons are likely intended for smuggling, particularly cigarettes, but pose a significant threat to air safety. Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene has directly blamed Belarus for allowing these balloons to “run wild” over its territory.
In a statement issued earlier today, authorities declared, “The decision regarding airspace restrictions was made due to balloons flying in the direction of Vilnius Airport.” This incident marks a serious escalation in ongoing airspace safety issues for Lithuania, a key member of NATO.
Lithuania’s government has been sounding alarms about these balloon incursions for some time, with reports indicating that a staggering 250 balloons crossed into the country in September alone. Ruginiene noted that the recent balloon activity has prompted not only airport closures but also a temporary shutdown of borders with Belarus as the national security council convenes to strategize next steps.
The Lithuanian Prime Minister emphasized the need for urgent action, stating, “A large group of smuggling meteorological balloons has been launched from Belarus,” further aggravating tensions in the region. In a separate statement, she confirmed that Kaunas Airport also faced closures due to the balloon incursions.
Furthermore, authorities are taking this matter seriously, with more than 100 arrests made this year related to air smuggling, and 20 convictions already handed down. They are calling on tech companies and defense contractors to propose solutions for tracking and neutralizing these balloons, which are often equipped with GPS trackers and SIM cards.
The balloon incidents come amidst broader concerns about airspace violations, especially following a series of drone incursions over Poland attributed to Russian-operated drones flying through Belarus. Other NATO allies, including Denmark, have also reported similar incursions at their airports.
Lithuanian authorities are under significant pressure as they assess the implications of these balloon flights on national security. With regional tensions already heightened, the situation is developing rapidly, and officials are urging the public to remain vigilant.
As the situation unfolds, the international community is watching closely, especially given the historical context of airspace violations in the Baltic region. The press team for Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the balloon incursions.
Stay tuned for further updates as Lithuania navigates this pressing and unusual challenge to its airspace security.
