Lithuania closes Vilnius airport after NATO jets scramble for suspected drone

Lithuania temporarily closed Vilnius International Airport and activated NATO aviation assets after radar systems detected an object suspected to be a drone. The incident triggered the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission, resulting in a fighter jet being scrambled from the Šiauliai Air Base in northern Lithuania, where Italian Air Force forces are stationed.

The fighter jet was tasked with visually identifying the radar target. Upon investigation, the Lithuanian National Crisis Management Center confirmed that the radar reflections were actually caused by a flock of birds. The Center noted that initial radar readings for birds and unmanned aerial vehicles can appear similar.

The air alert was lifted and the airport reopened after 38 minutes once the threat was deemed non-existent. The incident drew international attention, with some media outlets highlighting the high level of military readiness in the Baltic region during periods of heightened tension.