Utena region lifts air threat alert after drone sightings

A drone-related air threat alert in Lithuania’s Utena region was lifted on Thursday, the National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) announced.

The warning, issued at 16:24 local time, remained in effect for less than 90 minutes. NATO fighter jets conducting air policing missions have returned to base, according to the Lithuanian military.

A military helicopter has been dispatched to inspect the area where radar contact with the objects was lost, the armed forces stated.

Earlier reports indicated that Utena had raised its highest-level red air threat alert, signalling that an unidentified object was either flying in Lithuanian airspace or posed a high probability of entering it, potentially threatening national territory. The alert level was later downgraded.

Initial information suggested a single object detected by radar, but this was later updated to confirm two objects flying in close proximity.