NATO Fighter Jets Scrambled in Lithuania Over Airspace Threat
Lithuania issued an air threat warning on the morning of 18 October after an unidentified object, most likely a drone, may have entered its airspace. NATO fighters were scrambled, and the greatest risk is considered to be around Panevėžys.
An air threat warning was issued in Lithuania on the morning of Sunday, 18 October, after an unidentified object, most likely an unmanned aerial vehicle or drone, may have entered the country's airspace. NATO fighter jets were scrambled to find it, and air traffic at Kaunas Airport was temporarily suspended, according to the Lithuanian outlet Lrytas.lt. Warnings were also circulated in southern Latvia, including in Bauska municipality.
What is known about the object
Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of Lithuania's Emergency Situations and Crisis Management Centre, told Lithuania's public broadcaster that the latest information indicates a threat in the airspace and that it is most likely a drone. It is not yet known what kind of drone it is or whether it poses a direct danger. Because of poor weather, the object has so far not been identified.
According to Vitkauskas, the suspicious object was spotted south of Panevėžys, so the greatest threat could be to that city and its surroundings.
Warning levels
Initially, a red air threat warning was issued in Panevėžys and Šiauliai counties, while residents of Kaunas county received yellow-level alerts. At 7:52, Lithuania's armed forces announced that the red warning remained only in the Panevėžys region. In other areas it was lifted and the white level was set, meaning there is no longer any threat.
The search continues
NATO fighters continue to look for the possible object. Military personnel are trying to find an area with less cloud cover so the object can be identified visually. The jets have followed the object in the Biržai district, close to the Latvian border.
