Reuters
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Lithuania has stopped air traffic at Vilnius airport due to balloons that could fly through airspace, and flights have been decoupled, airport operators said late Saturday.
European aviation has been repeatedly thrown into chaos over the past few weeks due to drone sightings and air invasions, including airports in Copenhagen and Munich.
“Note: the airspace at Vilnius Airport is closed,” the airport said in a statement on its website, with the closure expected to last until 2:45am local time (7:45pm EST).
Travelers said they should check for updates through airport websites and airline announcements.
“According to our information, the decision was made due to the possibility of a series of balloons heading to Vilnius Airport, and the flight was affected as a result of this incident,” the airport said on social media.
NATO member Lithuania said in August that it declared a zone that was not long, 90 km (56 miles) in parallel with the border with Belarus, in response to drones entering from there.
A strong supporter of Ukraine, Lithuania shares a 679 km (422 miles) border with Belarus, a close Russian ally. The capital city of Virnius is approximately 30 km from the border.
