NATO jets destroy drone that entered Lithuania near Alytus

NATO air policing fighter jets destroyed a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace near Navasiolkų village in Alytus district, LRT reported. The alert was lifted after the drone was destroyed in the air.

The Fire and Rescue Department announced shortly after midnight that a drone had entered Lithuanian territory and that a probable air danger alert had been issued for several municipalities. About 30 minutes later, authorities reported that the drone had been destroyed.

Initial information indicated that the drone had most likely entered Lithuania from Belarus. Military police, police and other services were sent to the location.

The alert was sent to mobile phones in Vilnius and Vilnius district, as well as Trakai and Elektrėnai municipalities. National Crisis Management Centre head Vilmantas Vitkauskas said around 12:30 a.m. that the drone had been detected near Trakai district and that NATO fighter jets had been activated.

Vilnius Airport operator Lithuanian Airports said the airport’s operations and the airspace had been restricted because of the probable air danger. Information about flights was available on the airport’s website and by telephone.

The previous alert about a possible air danger was issued on Sunday. Authorities later determined that it had been triggered by radar detection of a flock of birds.

Authorities advise residents who hear the civil protection signal “Air danger” to go as quickly as possible to a designated shelter or another safe place, such as a basement, an underground pedestrian passage, a tunnel, a ditch or a depression. People are advised to avoid windows, balconies, lifts and open spaces.