Lithuania confirmed that what was initially believed to be a drone sighting in its airspace on Sunday, causing Vilnius airport closure and NATO deployment of a fighter jet, turned out to be a group of birds. The National Crisis Management Centre of Lithuania stated that the airport resumed operations after 38 minutes when the NATO jet visually identified the birds. The center explained that radar readings can sometimes be misleading, as both birds and drones can create similar marks.
A jet was dispatched from Siauliai in northern Lithuania, where the Italian air force is stationed for the NATO Baltic Air Defence mission. Concerns have been raised about military drones trespassing into the airspace of Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, indicating potential spillover of the conflict in Ukraine towards NATO’s northern borders with Russia.
Despite the incident, the Vilnius marathon, happening in the city, continued uninterrupted according to event organizers. Earlier in August, an employee at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany discovered a drone with an unidentified explosive device in the cargo operations area.
NATO remains vigilant in monitoring airspace threats over eastern Europe, especially concerning suspicious drone activities that have led to airport closures. CBC’s Briar Stewart delves into Operation Eastern Sentry, shedding light on NATO’s efforts to safeguard the region’s skies.