Copyright kyivpost
Lithuania’s main international airport was temporarily shut down late on Oct. 26 after several balloons were detected drifting toward its airspace, prompting authorities to suspend all flights in what officials now describe as a potential “hybrid provocation.” According to the airport’s statement on Facebook, air traffic was halted at 9:42 p.m. local time due to balloons flying in the direction of Vilnius Airport. In an official statement, Vilnius Airport confirmed: “As of 9:42 p.m. on Oct. 26, air traffic at Vilnius Airport was temporarily suspended. According to initial reports, the decision to restrict the airspace was caused by balloons flying in the direction of Vilnius Airport. The airspace over Vilnius Airport was reopened at 4:30 a.m.” The suspension triggered a major ripple across the region’s air network. In total, 47 flights were affected – 13 cancelled, 14 diverted to Kaunas or Riga, and 20 delayed. Airport authorities warned that “occasional flight delays may occur during the day due to disrupted crew and aircraft rotations.” Passengers whose flights were cancelled were advised not to travel to the airport and instead contact their airlines directly for rebooking and travel alternatives. “Airlines are required to provide all necessary information regarding next steps and flight options,” the statement added. The incident marks the third disruption of Lithuania’s airspace in less than a week, following similar cases involving small balloons launched from across the Belarusian border. Lithuanian media reported that some of them carried contraband goods such as cigarettes, while others appeared to have no clear purpose – raising speculation that they may be part of deliberate attempts to test the country’s air defenses. President Gitanas Nausėda said the latest shutdown underscores the need for a “firm and asymmetric response,” calling the balloon intrusions a hybrid attack against Lithuania’s security. He added that Vilnius should consider tightening or even temporarily closing its border with Belarus and restricting transit to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. The temporary suspension of flights caused not only travel chaos but also financial losses and questions about the resilience of NATO’s eastern flank. As of Monday morning, flights at Vilnius Airport have resumed, but Lithuania’s government warns that further airspace restrictions and border measures remain under consideration.
