The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
Vilnius Airport Closed & NATO Fighter Jets Scrambled After Birds Mistaken For A Drone
Suspicious radar signatures triggered a national air alert, but it later turned out to be a flock of birds.
Vilnius International Airport (VNO) briefly closed on Sunday afternoon after radar detected what was initially believed to be a drone. NATO fighter jets were scrambled from an airbase in northern Lithuania in response to the alert.
Residents in Vilnius and the surrounding area were sent alerts advising them to seek shelter during the incident. The national air alert was triggered by the suspicious radar signatures.
Authorities later determined the suspected drone activity was not an airborne threat and attributed it to other airspace activity. The situation was clarified after officials assessed the radar data.
The incident underscores the challenge of distinguishing birds or other non-threats from potential drone activity on radar, prompting a rapid military and civil response. No further details about delays or operational impacts at the airport were provided in the material.