Lithuania cancels air alert after unidentified object disappears

Lithuania canceled a yellow air threat alert on Saturday after an unidentified object disappeared from radar, LRT reported. The search for a possible drone was called off at 1 p.m., with authorities saying the object had not been identified or found.

National Crisis Management Centre chief Vilmantas Vitkauskas said the object had disappeared from the monitored area and no longer posed a threat. He said it might not have been a drone: its speed was lower than expected, and the radar reading could have been caused by an anomaly or migrating birds.

Fighter jets were scrambled after the object was detected, and controlled airspace at Vilnius Airport was temporarily closed. The centre’s representative Darius Buta said the object had entered Lithuania from Belarus.

Residents reported a possible object moving beyond Vilnius towards Jonava, but Vitkauskas said those reports had not been confirmed. Alerts were also sent to Ukmerge. Mayor Darius Varnas said the city was in contact with the crisis centre and urged residents to follow updates and remain prepared.

Fire and Rescue Department chief Renatas Požėla said reports of a possible drone sound or sighting from Kaišiadorys, Molėtai and Vilnius district were being checked. He urged people not to approach suspicious objects and said footage taken from a safe distance could assist authorities.