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4d ago

Vilnius Airport Reopens After Contraband Balloons Violate Lithuanian Airspace

Authorities classify the incursions as organized crime linked to Belarus-based smuggling.

In this undated photo released by the State Border Guard Service, an officer inspects a balloon used to carry cigarettes into Lithuania, because Belarussian smugglers often use them to ferry the contraband into the European Union (State Border Guard Service via AP)
photo of cigarettes, marlboro, cigarette pack, and grey in Bridgewater, United States by David Trinks
Image
(Image Credit: Pofka/Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Overview

  • Up to 25 small hot-air or meteorological balloons entered Lithuanian airspace on Oct. 4–5, with two passing over Vilnius Airport and forcing a temporary shutdown.
  • Operations resumed at 04:50 local time on Sunday after disruptions to about 30 flights that affected roughly 6,000 passengers, and the airport is fully operational as of Oct. 6.
  • Border police recovered 11 balloons and approximately 18,000 packs of smuggled cigarettes in multiple locations, officials said.
  • Lithuanian officials say smugglers increasingly launch balloons from deeper inside Belarus so they cross the border at altitude and descend further inland, including near the capital.
  • Lithuania reports 966 balloon incursions in 2024 and 544 so far in 2025, and recent drone incidents led parliament in July to authorize shooting down unmanned aircraft violating its airspace.