Vilnius Airport Closes Briefly as NATO Jets Scramble Over Bird‑Drone Mix‑Up

Vilnius International Airport shut for a short period on Sunday afternoon after radar picked up a target that was first thought to be a drone. The misidentified object turned out to be a flock of birds. In response, NATO fighter jets were dispatched from a northern Lithuanian airbase to investigate the airspace. Meanwhile, authorities issued alerts to residents in Vilnius and nearby towns, urging them to seek shelter. The jets returned to base after confirming the threat was harmless, and the airport reopened once the airspace was cleared. The incident highlighted the rapid coordination between civil aviation and military forces in managing unexpected airspace intrusions.