A yellow-level air threat alert issued for Vilnius county on Saturday morning has been lifted after the object that triggered it was identified as a weather balloon that had drifted into Lithuanian airspace from the direction of Belarus.
Nato air policing fighters were scrambled during the alert, which was stood down shortly before 11am. The status has returned to white, meaning residents may return to normal activity.
Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said the radar contact, which had displayed characteristics consistent with an unmanned aerial vehicle, turned out to be a meteorological balloon that had drifted into Lithuanian airspace.
The head of the National Crisis Management Centre, Vilmantas Vitkauskas, said the object’s initial radar signature was consistent with a drone, prompting the activation of forces that would have been able to neutralise it if necessary. Only one object was being tracked throughout.
“The object has been identified as most likely a meteorological balloon rather than a drone, and residents have been notified that the air threat has been lifted,” he told LRT television. “Nevertheless, we recommend remaining vigilant, as similar objects may appear again.”
Read more: LRT.LT
