URGENT UPDATE: Lithuania has closed Vilnius Airport for the third consecutive night due to balloons flying in from Belarus, causing serious air safety concerns. This latest airport shutdown occurred on Sunday, October 15, 2023, from 9:42 p.m. to 4:30 a.m., affecting 47 flights as officials scramble to address the threat.
Authorities confirmed that the helium-filled balloons, suspected to be linked to cigarette smuggling, pose significant risks to air traffic. Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene condemned the situation, stating that the Belarusian government, led by Alexander Lukashenko, is responsible for allowing these “smuggling meteorological balloons” to “run wild.”
This alarming incident adds to a growing list of balloon incursions from Belarus into Lithuanian airspace. Just days before, local officials detected “several hundred markers” in one night, prompting an earlier airport closure and heightened security measures.
Lithuania’s security council is set to meet on Monday, October 16, 2023, to discuss further actions, including the temporary closure of its borders with Belarus. The situation reflects ongoing tensions within NATO, as Baltic states report repeated airspace violations linked to Belarus and Russia.
In a statement, the Lithuanian government highlighted that this year alone, over 100 arrests have been made related to air smuggling, with 20 convictions already secured. The balloons often come equipped with GPS trackers and SIM cards, complicating tracking efforts. Authorities are now calling on tech companies and defense contractors to develop solutions for detecting and neutralizing these aerial threats.
Lithuania’s recent challenges with balloons are not isolated. The country reported an unprecedented 250 balloon incursions in September 2024 alone. This uptick in balloon activity coincides with a series of drone incursions over NATO member states, raising concerns about regional security and airspace integrity.
Adding to the urgency, previous reports have indicated that similar balloon incursions have occurred in other parts of the world. For instance, South Korea accused North Korea of deploying balloons filled with trash as a form of psychological warfare in the summer of 2024.
As tensions escalate, Lithuania remains on high alert. The international community watches closely, with implications for broader NATO security and cooperation. Updates on the situation are expected as authorities continue to monitor and respond to these aerial threats.
Stay tuned for more breaking news on this developing story.
