The airspace above Vilnius airport was closed following the detection of the possible, but far from certain, presence of a drone. When the alarm went off, NATO fighters took off.
This was made known by Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Center (NKMC) of Lithuania, interviewed by the public broadcaster LRT. After being detected, the flying object disappeared from radar, he said.
Vitkauskas: «It is not certain that it is a drone»
“If it fell, if it was a drone, it will have to be found,” he said, “but it is not certain that it is a drone, as some parameters indicated a speed slightly lower than usual.” So it could be “an atmospheric anomaly or a migration of birds”, he explained.
The first alarm and the invitation to seek shelter
A drone violated Lithuanian airspace. This was communicated by the Vilnius government’s Crisis Service, inviting the population of eastern Lithuania to identify the nearest air-raid shelters where they can take refuge in case of need. «The Lithuanian Armed Forces inform: possible air incursion alert. Look for a safe place. If you notice a suspicious object, keep your distance and call 112. Wait for the all-clear”, the authorities declared in an emergency message also published on the website of Lrt, the Lithuanian public radio and TV service.