Balloon smuggling from Belarus forces hour-long shutdown at Vilnius Airport

Vilnius Airport was forced to suspend operations for more than an hour on November 20 evening after navigation traces consistent with smugglers’ balloons arriving from Belarus were detected, affecting ten flights and over 1,100 passengers, the National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) reported.

According to the NKVC, airspace restrictions were introduced at 18:38 and remained in place until 19:55. Initial data suggested that up to ten balloon-like objects had entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus, prompting the temporary shutdown, LRT reports.

Lithuanian Airports said four flights were cancelled, while six others were unable to land or depart as scheduled. Among the delayed aircraft was a flight from Brussels carrying Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys and European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius.

Balloon-based smuggling activities have repeatedly disrupted Lithuanian airport operations in recent months and were a key factor behind the government’s decision to close its border with Belarus for a month in late October. Although Lithuania reopened two border checkpoints on November 20—earlier than originally planned—tensions with Minsk remain high.

According to Erlandas Mikėnas, president of the national road haulers association Linava, Belarus continues to block Lithuanian-registered trucks from leaving designated parking areas, insisting on a meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministries.

Lithuanian officials maintain that tobacco smuggling via weather balloons occurs with the knowledge and approval of the Belarusian government.

By Vafa Guliyeva