Lithuania Closes Airports Again as Balloons from Belarus Threaten Airspace

UPDATE: Lithuania has closed Vilnius Airport for the third consecutive night due to balloons flying in from Belarus, raising urgent air safety concerns. Officials confirmed on Sunday that the balloons, suspected to be linked to cigarette smuggling, have prompted significant disruptions, affecting 47 flights from 9:42 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. the following morning.

Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene accused Belarusian authorities under Alexander Lukashenko of allowing these balloons to “run wild,” posing a serious threat to air traffic. The situation escalated this week, with local officials detecting “several hundred markers” potentially related to smuggling operations.

Authorities reported that the airspace around Vilnius Airport was temporarily closed as a precaution against the balloons. This incident marks a continuation of balloon incursions that have plagued Lithuania for months, with reports indicating that over 250 balloons crossed the border in a single month as of September 2024.

In a statement made earlier today, the Lithuanian government declared it would temporarily close its borders with Belarus while the security council convenes on Monday to formulate a response. The balloons, believed to be equipped with GPS trackers and SIM cards, are commonly used for illicit activities, further raising alarms among officials.

The increasing frequency of these incursions comes on the heels of heightened tensions across Europe, particularly among NATO allies. Lithuania has been vocal about airspace violations, especially with the Baltic states reporting similar incidents involving Russian drones.

Lithuanian authorities have arrested over 100 individuals this year for air smuggling, with 20 convictions already secured. Officials are now calling on technology companies and defense contractors to propose solutions for tracking and neutralizing these balloon threats.

The situation remains fluid, and as Lithuania grapples with this latest challenge, the international community is closely monitoring developments. As tensions mount, the implications for regional security are profound and immediate, echoing broader concerns regarding air safety and border integrity in the NATO alliance.

Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as officials continue to respond to the ongoing airspace crisis.