Lithuania's Airspace Intrusion: Smugglers' Balloons Disrupt Flights and Border Operations

Lithuania's Vilnius Airport resumed flights and reopened Belarus border crossings after balloon-related disruptions. Weather balloons from Belarus, filled with contraband cigarettes, affected flight operations for the second time this month. Recent airspace intrusions have similarly troubled other European airports, such as those in Copenhagen and Munich.

Lithuanian authorities resumed flight operations at Vilnius Airport and reopened two Belarus border crossings on Wednesday after disruptions caused by suspected smugglers' balloons, the National Crisis Management Centre reported.

A total of around 4,000 passengers and 30 flights were impacted when contraband-carrying helium weather balloons from Belarus breached the capital's airspace. This incident marked the second disturbance of its kind this month.

Similar airspace violations, including drone sightings, have led to chaos in European aviation, affecting major airports such as those in Copenhagen and Munich.