Air traffic was suspended just after 18 local time (19 in Poland); restrictions will apply at least until 21 (22 in Poland) – stated in the announcement on the port's website.
Why did Vilnius airport stop operations?
How long will the restrictions at the airport remain in place?
How many flights were affected by problems at the airport?
Who do the Lithuanian authorities think is responsible for these incidents?
According to the Lithuanian authorities, the balloons are shipped from Belarus by cigarette smugglers, and the blame for this lies with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, who does not stop this practice. Lithuanian authorities claim it is a “hybrid attack”.
Due to smuggling balloons, the airport in Vilnius and once in Kaunas were closed ten times in October and November. The suspension of airport operations affected approximately 250 flights and 36,000. passengers.
A week ago, on the night from Sunday to Monday, the airport in Vilnius was closed twice due to smuggling balloons coming from Belarus.
Increasing incidents involving meteorological and smuggling balloons entering Lithuanian airspace from Belarus and disrupting traffic at the Vilnius airport resulted in Lithuania closing the border with Belarus at the end of October.
A week ago, the Lithuanian government decided to reopen the border, considering that the security situation no longer justified such a solution.
