Lithuania confirmed that a drone sighting in its airspace on Sunday, prompting the closure of Vilnius airport and the dispatch of a NATO fighter jet, was actually a flock of birds. The air alert was swiftly lifted, and the airport resumed operations after visual confirmation by the NATO jet. The National Crisis Management Centre of Lithuania explained that initial radar readings can sometimes mistake bird movements for drones.
A fighter jet was scrambled from Siauliai in northern Lithuania, home to the Italian air force as part of the NATO Baltic Air Defence mission. Concerns are rising as military drones crossing into the airspace of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania suggest potential spillover from the conflict in Ukraine towards NATO’s northern borders with Russia.
Despite the incident, the Vilnius marathon continued without interruption, according to organizers. In a separate event in August, a drone carrying an unknown explosive device was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany.
NATO remains vigilant against airspace threats over eastern Europe, as ongoing suspicious drone sightings have led to airport closures. CBC’s Briar Stewart explores the Operation Eastern Sentry mission, monitoring the skies for potential threats.
