Lithuanian airport shut down by balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes
- Up to 25 hot-air balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes entered Lithuanian airspace late Saturday.
- The intrusion led to the shutdown of Vilnius Airport, affecting around 6,000 passengers and disrupting 30 flights.
- The incident highlights ongoing security concerns in the region, with authorities intensifying measures against aerial violations.
On Saturday night, multiple hot-air balloons entered Lithuanian airspace, leading to the closure of Vilnius Airport, the country's main international airport. Authorities reported that up to 25 small hot-air balloons were involved, with many confirmed to be transporting smuggled cigarettes. The incursion disrupted approximately 30 flights, significantly impacting around 6,000 passengers. The air traffic was halted from late Saturday until early Sunday, when operations resumed shortly after 4:50 a.m. The incident unfolded against a backdrop of heightened vigilance in Europe, particularly regarding airspace intrusions linked to geopolitical tensions. Recent months have seen an increasing number of aerial incursions near Baltic states, raising concerns about security and preparedness against potential threats, particularly from neighboring Belarus and Russia. Following a series of drone incidents peaked in July, Lithuanian authorities have remained on alert, intensifying their responses to any aerial violations. In light of this situation, the Lithuanian parliament voted to empower the armed forces to take down any drones breaching national airspace. The smuggling operation demonstrated a novel tactic involving hot-air balloons, which smugglers have adopted as a cost-effective alternative to drones for transporting contraband into the European Union. Prior to this, similar incidents had been recorded, though not at such a scale. In the previous year, Lithuanian officials managed to intercept close to 966 balloons entering from Belarus. Data from the current year indicates that around 544 incidents have already been documented. Lithuanian border police managed to recover 11 of the balloons and confiscated a significant quantity of illicit cigarettes amounting to 18,000 packs spread across various recovery sites. Officials emphasized that while these activities are criminal, they do not categorize them as provocations or acts of sabotage against the state.