Bird scare shuts down Lithuanian airport as fighter jet is scrambled
NATO fighter jet scrambled in Lithuania over a flock of birds (photo: Getty Images)
Lithuania closed Vilnius airport and scrambled a NATO fighter jet over a suspicious object in the air. It turned out to be a flock of birds, according to Reuters.
Incident details
An air raid alert was declared in the Lithuanian capital on Sunday, September 13.
Authorities temporarily suspended operations at Vilnius Airport due to a suspected drone threat.
An Italian fighter jet was scrambled from the base in Siauliai to investigate the situation. The aircraft is participating in the NATO Baltic Air Defense mission.
After the NATO pilot visually identified the object, it became clear that the alert had been triggered by mistake.
A flock of birds occupied airspace
Lithuania's National Crisis Management Center explained that the initial radar readings for drones and birds can look similar.
Vilnius Airport resumed operations 38 minutes after it was closed.
The incident did not disrupt the Vilnius Marathon, which went ahead as scheduled.
Incidents involving military drones entering the airspace of the Baltic states and Finland are causing growing concern among NATO members.
NATO has stepped up monitoring over concerns that the war could spread beyond Ukraine to the northern borders with Russia.
Nuclear weapons in Lithuania
Earlier, in July 2026, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said he intended to begin removing the constitutional ban on nuclear weapons.
According to him, leaders of the country's parliamentary parties have virtually unanimous support for the move, which would allow Vilnius to finally leave what is known as NATO's "gray zone" of security.
The Lithuanian leadership's initiative drew a sharp reaction from Russia.
Russian president's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov and Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev issued threats against the country.
However, Lithuanian politicians dismissed the Kremlin's intimidation, calling it psychological pressure that would in no way change the decision on the possible deployment of nuclear weapons on the territory of Lithuania.
