Lithuania says drone sighting was a flock of birds after NATO scrambles jet and Vilnius airport closes

Airport Alert and Quick Resolution

Vilnius Ciurlionis International Airport was temporarily closed on Sunday after radar detected an unidentified object in Lithuanian airspace. NATO scrambled at least one fighter jet in response, and the airport reopened within 38 minutes after the jet visually confirmed the object was not a threat.

Birds Mistaken for Drone

Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre later said the object was a flock of birds. Radar returns from birds and drones can appear similar on initial readings, which explains why the alert was raised. The jet came from Siauliai in northern Lithuania, where Italy's air force is stationed under NATO's Baltic Air Defence mission.

Rising Baltic Airspace Concerns

The false alarm reflects growing unease in the Baltic region over military drones entering the airspace of Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Officials are concerned that the war in Ukraine could spill over into NATO's northern borders with Russia, making any airspace incident highly sensitive.

Minimal Impact on the Ground

The Vilnius marathon, taking place in the capital at the time, continued without interruption, organisers said. The episode underscores both the region's heightened vigilance and the difficulty of telling birds from drones on radar.