Summary
Lithuanian airspace was disrupted when balloons carrying smuggled cigarettes from Belarus forced Vilnius Airport to close temporarily. The balloons led to 30 canceled flights, impacting 6,000 passengers. This incident is part of a broader issue of using balloons to smuggle goods across borders in Europe.
Key Facts
- Balloons carried 18,000 packs of illegal cigarettes into Lithuania from Belarus.
- Vilnius Airport closed for several hours, affecting 30 flights and 6,000 passengers.
- The disruption comes amid tensions in Europe due to recent drone activities suspected to be linked to Russia.
- Lithuanian officials said these balloons are a common smuggling method in the region.
- This year, 544 balloons have crossed into Lithuania from Belarus.
- Poland has also reported over 100 cases of balloons carrying contraband from Belarus this year.
- Despite being affected by weather conditions, balloons are used because they are cheaper than drones.
- Lithuania aims to intercept these contraband deliveries to protect civil aviation.
