NATO fighter jets scrambled amid huge attack as people warned 'find a safe place'
NATO fighter jets were scrambled in Lithuania following the detection of an unidentified object crossing from Belarus, leading to a temporary airspace closure. Authorities later canceled the alert, suggesting the object may have been a bird flock or a minor anomaly.
Why it matters
Heightened tensions along the NATO-Russia border make even minor airspace incursions a matter of significant security concern.
32 Italian Eurofighters have been used to patrol Lithuania's skies (Image: Getty) NATO fighter jets were scrambled in Lithuania after a suspected drone crossed into the country, forcing Vilnius Airport in the capital to close its airspace. Lithuanian authorities issued a possible air threat alert to residents, urging them to find a safe place.
The suspected drone was detected entering Lithuania's airspace from Belarus on Saturday morning, triggering the alarm to be sounded shortly before 10am local time. However, about 40 minutes later, the alert was cancelled as officials said it no longer caused a threat. Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre, said the object had moved away from the NATO ally's observation zone.
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