Navigation traces consistent with smugglers’ balloons arriving from Belarus forced Vilnius Airport to halt operations for more than an hour on Thursday evening, affecting ten flights and more than 1,100 passengers, the National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) said.
Airspace restrictions were imposed at 18:38 and lifted at 19:55, the centre said. Initial data indicated up to ten balloon-like objects entering Lithuanian airspace from Belarus.
Lithuanian Airports said four flights were cancelled and six others were unable to land or depart as scheduled. Among the delayed aircraft was a flight from Brussels carrying Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys and European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius.
Balloon-based smuggling has repeatedly disrupted airport operations in recent months and was a key factor in Lithuania’s decision to close its border with Belarus for a month in late October. Although Lithuania reopened two border checkpoints on Thursday, earlier than planned, friction with Minsk continues.
Belarus is still blocking Lithuania-registered trucks from leaving designated parking lots, demanding a meeting between the countries’ foreign ministries, according to Erlandas Mikėnas, president of the national road haulers association Linava.
Lithuanian officials say tobacco smuggling via weather balloons takes place with the knowledge and approval of the Belarusian government.
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