Vilnius Airport Temporarily Closed Due to Drone Sighting
Vilnius Airport was briefly shut down on Wednesday after an unidentified drone was spotted near the capital's airspace. The airport resumed normal operations at 10:18 a.m. local time once the situation was evaluated.
Official Statements and Investigation
According to Tadas Vasiliauskas, a representative of the airport, the air traffic was halted temporarily for safety precautions. The Lithuanian Public Security Service later confirmed the drone was a civilian model, which remained in the air for less than one minute.
Impact on Flights
During the drone sighting, Flightradar data indicated a Ryanair flight from Barcelona was circling in the vicinity, waiting for clearance to land. The shutdown resulted in minor delays but did not cause any significant disruption to airport operations.
Context of Previous Incidents
Earlier in late October, Lithuania had already closed two major airports and border crossings with Belarus due to sightings of balloons entering the country from Belarus.
"Air traffic resumed at 10:18 a.m. local time after the situation was assessed." — Tadas Vasiliauskas, Vilnius Airport representative
"The object was a civilian drone that stayed airborne for less than a minute." — Lithuanian Public Security Service
Summary: Vilnius Airport briefly halted operations after a civilian drone was detected, causing minimal delays and reflecting ongoing regional airspace security vigilance.