NATO fighter jets shoot down drone in Lithuania FAST-MOVING

NATO fighter jets drone shootdown Lithuanian airspace Baltic Air Policing Eurofighter Typhoon

NATO fighter jets intercepted and destroyed an unidentified drone that entered Lithuanian airspace, likely originating from Belarus. The incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday near Pratkūnai village in Kaunas County.

Italian Eurofighter Typhoon jets, stationed at Šiauliai Air Base as part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission, performed the interception. The breach triggered emergency air alerts in Vilnius and surrounding districts, including Trakai and Elektrėnai, and led to the temporary closure of Vilnius International Airport for approximately 38 to 40 minutes.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda praised the rapid response of the allied forces, stating that such readiness is vital for the region given Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine. While the drone's exact origin and purpose are still under investigation by military and police specialists, authorities noted that the incident highlights the heightened security tensions in the Baltic states.

Entities

Belarus · Botoșani · Gitanas Nausėda · Italian Air Force · Italy · Lithuania · Lithuanian National Crisis Management Center · NATO · National Crisis Management Center · Poland · Republic of Moldova · Romanian Ministry of National Defence

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] The Vilnius Marathon was not interrupted by the aerial alert. www.seznamzpravy.cz · www.cnnbrasil.com.br
[● 7 SOURCES] Italian Air Force personnel are currently deployed at the Siauliai base as part of NATO's Baltic air defense mission. www.seznamzpravy.cz · giaoducthoidai.vn · www.cnnbrasil.com.br
[● 8 SOURCES] Vilnius Airport reopened after approximately 38 minutes. ameve.eu · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · orainfo.net · halktv.com.tr
[● 10 SOURCES] A NATO fighter jet was mobilized from the Siauliai airbase to perform a visual identification. www.seznamzpravy.cz · ameve.eu · giaoducthoidai.vn · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · orainfo.net
[● 15 SOURCES] Vilnius Airport was temporarily closed on Sunday due to a suspected drone in Lithuanian airspace. www.seznamzpravy.cz · zmones.15min.lt · ameve.eu · giaoducthoidai.vn · orainfo.net · +4 more
[DISPUTED] The detected object was identified as a flock of birds rather than a drone. ameve.eu · giaoducthoidai.vn · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · www.piranot.com.br · halktv.com.tr · +2 more
[● 10 SOURCES] An alert was previously issued in Vilnius and its surrounding areas. www.tromaktiko.gr · www.ertnews.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · ameve.eu · www.ziarulnational.md · +5 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The exact origin of the drone has not yet been confirmed. www.tromaktiko.gr · www.ertnews.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · www.rt.com · www.ziarulnational.md · +1 more
[● 10 SOURCES] A NATO fighter jet downed a drone in Lithuanian airspace shortly after midnight. www.tromaktiko.gr · www.ertnews.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · www.rt.com · www.aerotime.aero · +4 more
[● 9 SOURCES] The drone is estimated to have entered Lithuanian airspace from the direction of Belarus. www.tromaktiko.gr · www.ertnews.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · www.aerotime.aero · www.enikos.gr · +3 more
[● 9 SOURCES] Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda thanked NATO personnel for their immediate response and stated Lithuania will defend its airspace with NATO allies. www.tromaktiko.gr · www.ertnews.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · www.rt.com · www.aerotime.aero · +4 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The drone was downed near the village of Pratkūnai in southern Lithuania, close to Kaunas. www.tromaktiko.gr · www.ertnews.gr · www.iefimerida.gr · www.aerotime.aero · www.enikos.gr · +1 more