Flights at Lithuania’s Vilnius Airport were disrupted for a second consecutive night over the weekend due to suspected smuggling balloons drifting in from neighboring Belarus, authorities said. The latest Vilnius Airport disruption has intensified tensions along the border and prompted emergency security meetings in the capital.
Air traffic at Vilnius was suspended at 9:35 p.m. on Saturday and only reopened at 3:30 a.m. Sunday, causing four flight cancellations and seven diversions. A similar six-hour suspension the previous night affected both Vilnius and Kaunas airports, resulting in 10 canceled flights and four diversions.
National Security Commission to Discuss Response
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has called for an urgent meeting of Lithuania’s National Security Commission on Monday to discuss possible countermeasures and tighter penalties for smugglers.
“The government will not tolerate activities that endanger our strategic infrastructure,” officials said in a statement, warning Belarus that further incidents could prompt stronger diplomatic and border responses.
Since 2023, Lithuanian border guards have documented multiple cases of low-altitude balloons being used to smuggle contraband cigarettes across the frontier. The country temporarily closed its border crossings at Medininkai and Šalčininkai several times last week due to similar airspace intrusions.
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Smuggling Balloons Becoming a Persistent Threat
Authorities say the balloons—often carrying boxes of illicit cigarettes—pose both aviation and national security risks. According to the head of Lithuania’s border guard, there has been no evidence that the balloons are being used for purposes other than smuggling, but their proximity to airports remains a serious hazard.
The Vilnius Airport disruption comes amid rising geopolitical tensions in the region. Lithuania, a European Union and NATO member, shares borders with Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave and Belarus, a close ally of Moscow.
Government Considers Stronger Measures
Prime Minister Ruginienė said Lithuania may have to consider a longer-term closure of its border with Belarus if the incidents continue. “The repeated disruptions are unacceptable. We will take the necessary steps to protect our national airspace and public safety,” she said.
Officials have not disclosed whether additional military or radar surveillance will be deployed near the affected areas, but aviation authorities confirmed that security procedures at airports have been heightened.
