US EditionAirport halts flights after balloons used by cigarette smugglers breach airspace
- On Tuesday night, Lithuanian authorities suspended operations at Vilnius Airport after dozens of balloons entered its airspace, with the National Crisis Management Center saying weather balloons were used to smuggle cigarettes from Belarus.
- After Lithuania built a border fence and closed crossings last year, land smuggling became virtually impossible, prompting smugglers using drones and weather balloons to shift tactics.
- On October 5, drifting balloons delayed some 30 flights and affected 6,000 passengers, and nearly 30 flights had been affected with eight incoming flights redirected to Kaunas airport and Warsaw.
- Lithuania closed border crossing points with Belarus into early Wednesday, and Vilmantas Vitkauskas said the move will be reviewed once the airport reopens amid heightened European alert after NATO airspace incursions in September.
- The NCMC reported earlier this month that 487 balloon shipments have been intercepted and 87 people detained this year, with Polish and Latvian guards also intercepting balloons.
47 Articles
47 Articles
At the airport of the Lithuanian capital Vilnius, the operation was temporarily stopped at night.
The Lithuanian authorities closed the air space over the capital of Vilnius after "some ten" balloons were observed in heaven, Tuesday evening, during an anti-teaching operation, according to Politico.
Lithuania's Airspace Intrusion: Smugglers' Balloons Disrupt Flights and Border Operations
Lithuania's Airspace Intrusion: Smugglers' Balloons Disrupt Flights and Border Operations Lithuanian authorities resumed flight operations at Vilnius Airport and reopened two Belarus border crossings on Wednesday after disruptions caused by suspected smugglers' balloons, the National Crisis Management Centre reported.A total of around 4,000 passengers and 30 flights were impacted when contraband-carrying helium weather balloons from Belarus brea…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 52% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
