NATO scrambles fighter jets over threat in Lithuanian skies - then the truth emerges

Radar in Lithuania detected what appeared to be unmanned aerial vehicles, Vilnius airport was closed, and a NATO fighter jet was scrambled. After 38 minutes, it turned out to be a flock of birds. The incident highlights the high sensitivity on NATO's eastern border amid the war in Ukraine.

Radar in Lithuania detected what appeared to be drones in the country's skies, leading to the temporary closure of Vilnius International Airport and the scrambling of a NATO fighter jet from Šiauliai Air Base. The incident, which occurred yesterday (Sunday), lasted 38 minutes until the fighter jet conducted a visual identification and discovered it was a flock of birds. Lithuania's National Crisis Management Center explained that in initial radar records, the signatures left by birds and drones can appear similar. The rapid response reflects the high alert of NATO countries bordering Russia and Belarus, amid a series of military drone incursions in recent years and concerns over spillover from the war in Ukraine. In August, a drone carrying an explosive device was reported found at an airport in Germany.