Lithuania says drone sighting turns out to be flock of birds, after NATO summons jets
- On Sunday, Lithuanian authorities temporarily closed Vilnius International Airport after detecting a suspected drone sighting. The National Crisis Management Centre confirmed the object was a flock of birds, and the airport reopened within 38 minutes.
- Radar operators face persistent technical challenges because 'on initial radar readings, marks left by birds and drones can be similar,' the National Crisis Management Centre noted. This ambiguity forces authorities to trigger rapid military responses even when threats remain unverified.
- A fighter jet was summoned from Siauliai in northern Lithuania, where the Italian air force is currently based as part of the NATO Baltic Air Defence mission. The jet conducted visual identification of the detected object.
- The temporary closure reflects extreme sensitivity of Baltic airspace monitoring, where rapid military intervention is standard practice. This incident demonstrates the ongoing pressure on regional defenses to maintain immediate capabilities during periods of high alert.
- As Russia intensifies aggression against Ukraine, NATO Allies remain on high alert, with President Gitanas Nausda emphasizing that such readiness is vital for the region's defense. The incident underscores the Baltics' role as NATO's eastern flank amid ongoing security pressures.
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140 Articles
Lithuanian president Gitanas Nauseda confirmed the information and local media claim that the drone came from Belarus.
A drone flying over Lithuania was destroyed in the night from Monday to Tuesday by NATO fighters, announced the Lithuanian president. According to the Lithuanian national radio, the drone came from neighbouring Belarus and was heading west.
NATO fighters on an air defense mission in the Baltic states shot down a drone for the first time in Lithuanian airspace on Tuesday night, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda announced. The Lithuanian armed forces had previously warned the population of a possible air threat via messages sent to mobile phones.
La Nación, Grupo Nación
snn.irNATO aircraft shoot down a military drone over Lithuania. Learn the details of this dangerous incident that ignites alarms in Baltic territory.
According to Lithuania's President Gitanas Nauseda, Nato fighter jets have shot down a drone over Lithuania. "This commitment to our region is crucial.
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