While many airports across Europe have experienced flight suspensions due to drones, Lithuania’s Vilnius Airport is facing a different problem. Meteorological balloons reportedly sent from Belarus carrying contraband cigarettes entered the airspace, causing a temporary halt to airport operations.
Flights Diverted to Alternative Airports
Many planes scheduled to land at Vilnius Airport were diverted to other cities for safety reasons. This incident marks the ninth temporary closure at the airport since the beginning of October.
Lithuanian authorities stated that the disruptions were caused by balloons sent from Belarus. The meteorological balloons pose a serious security risk in the airspace due to carrying contraband cigarettes.
Precautions and Border Policy
Last month, Lithuania decided to close both border crossing points with Belarus as a precaution against similar balloon incidents. However, once air traffic interruptions ended, the crossings were reopened at the beginning of the week.
This situation highlights that European aviation is facing new security threats from drones and balloons, and underscores the importance of operational flexibility for airports.
