Lithuania, forced to close its airports again because of balloons from Belarus / Prime Minister's reaction
Vilnius Airport. Photo: © MrFly | Dreamstime.com
NATO country Lithuania closed its two largest airports and closed border crossings with Belarus on Friday after helium weather balloons entered its territory, the third such incident since October in the Baltic nation.
European aviation has been thrown into chaos several times in recent weeks by drones and other aerial incursions, including at airports in Copenhagen, Munich and the Baltic region.
Vilnius and Kaunas airports were closed for security reasons until 2 a.m., while border crossings with Belarus will remain closed until noon Sunday, authorities said.
Lithuania has said the balloons are being sent by people smuggling cigarettes, but it also accuses Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, of failing to stop the practice.
“The National Security Commission will meet next week to assess … what can be done in the short term to deal a blow to smugglers and the Lukashenko regime that allows them to thrive,” Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene said in a statement.
Lithuania's National Crisis Management Center said “dozens of balloons” were detected by radar on Friday.
Vilnius airport was also closed on Tuesday this week.
It was also closed on October 5, when up to 25 small hot-air balloons entered Lithuanian airspace and closed Vilnius airport, causing delays of several hours, authorities said. Those balloons were carrying 12,000 packs of cigarettes, a Border Patrol spokesman said at the time.
Photo: DreamsTime.com
