Unidentified Drone Forces Temporary Closure and Delays at Lithuanian Capital Airport
Vilnius Airport, located in the Lithuanian capital, was temporarily closed on November 5 due to an unidentified drone sighting. This incident hampered airport operations, triggering delays for inbound flights, including a Ryanair flight originating from Barcelona.
Incident Overview
The airport closure occurred as authorities acted to ensure safety. Tadas Vasiliauskas, a spokesperson for Vilnius Airports, reported that the airspace was reopened at 10:18 AM local time. The Lithuanian Public Security Service later confirmed that the drone was civilian and only remained airborne for about a minute.
Flight Operations Affected
During the closure, the Flightradar service tracked a Ryanair aircraft circling above Vilnius, awaiting clearance to land. The brief disruption prompted a review of airport security protocols regarding drone activity in the vicinity.
Related Security Measures
This incident follows heightened security concerns in Lithuania. On October 24, the country had previously shut down two major airports and key border crossing points with Belarus due to unidentified balloons crossing the border.
- Violation reported: 275 illegal border crossing attempts from Belarus in October 2025.
- Close to half of those attempts happened in the last five days of October.
Conclusion
The presence of unidentified drones has raised significant concerns regarding air safety and border security in Lithuania. Authorities remain on high alert to prevent potential risks posed by aerial intrusions.
