Lithuania’s aviation sector is grappling with an unprecedented wave of disruptions caused by contraband balloons drifting in from Belarus. Lithuanian Airports (LTOU) revealed that damages from repeated airspace closures at Vilnius Airport (VNO) have exceeded €750,000 in just two months.
Balloon Incursions Cause Major Aviation Disruptions
According to the LTOU spokesperson Tadas Vasiliauskas, airspace above VNO was closed 13 times across October and November, including a prolonged shutdown between late November 30 and early December 1.
Around 5% of passengers using Lithuanian airports were affected during this period, as authorities halted flights whenever balloons, often smuggled cargo, crossed into Lithuanian territory.
Officials say the balloons are typically launched at night from Belarus, taking advantage of wind conditions to drift across the border.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko even acknowledged that border guards see these launches, adding dismissively, “So what? You imposed sanctions against us, you are strangling us.”
Lithuania Opens Criminal Probe as Hybrid Threats Intensify
The scale and frequency of these balloon incursions have raised national security concerns.
On December 1, Lithuania’s Prosecutor General’s Office launched a pre-trial investigation into potential violations of Article 118, which prohibits assisting a foreign state in actions against Lithuania. Convictions carry prison terms of up to seven years.
Authorities say balloons carrying navigational markers and smuggled goods have repeatedly forced the closure of airspace not only above Vilnius but also Kaunas Airport (KUN).
Since October, Lithuanian airports have faced more than a dozen shutdowns linked directly to these objects, prompting concerns over deliberate hybrid attacks.
Transport Minister Juras Taminskas warned that balloon-related incidents have intensified in recent weeks.
He confirmed that LTOU is working with airlines to strengthen response protocols and ensure Kaunas Airport can accommodate diversions, including providing bus transfers for displaced passengers.
“We just cannot let ourselves do nothing and constantly close down the airport,” he said.
Border Issues and Further Airport Chaos
Despite the mounting pressure, the ruling coalition, embroiled in turmoil since its 2024 election has struggled to respond decisively.
A one-month closure of border crossings with Belarus in October 2025 was reversed after lobbying from freight companies, diluting efforts to curb the incursions.
Compounding the turbulence, VNO faced additional disruption on November 26 when a LOT Polish Airlines Embraer E170 slid off the runway while taxiing, forcing another lengthy shutdown.
Balloon-related ground stops followed on November 28 and 30, with normal operations resuming only on December 1.
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