Flights Disrupted After Suspected Smuggling Balloon Sightings

Flights at Vilnius, Lithuania’s main airport, were halted on two consecutive nights after suspected balloons used to smuggle cigarettes from Belarus were sighted, forcing cancellations and diversions. Traffic paused 9:35 p.m. Saturday to 3:30 a.m. Sunday, causing four cancellations and seven diversions; a similar Friday halt at Vilnius and Kaunas led to 10 cancellations and four diversions. Border posts at Medininkai and Šalčininkai closed for hours after each incident. Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė called a Monday security meeting, warning of possible longer border closures and tougher penalties for smugglers.

Reviewed by JQJO team

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