“This seems to have been the most intense invasion of air balloons with smuggled cigarettes this year. The intensity is measured in two axes – time axis, in which balloons were released into our country, and their number,” Director of the National Crisis Management Centre (NKVC) Vilmantas Vitkauskas told public radio LRT.

This prompted suspension of flights at Vilnius Airport to ensure aviation safety. Airport operations were suspended from around 10:23 p.m. Tuesday to 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

According to Vilnius Airport, the incident affected around 30 flights and more than 4,000 passengers.

Fourteen planes were diverted to other airports: ten landed in Kaunas Airport, two landed in Riga and one each in Palanga and Warsaw.

Ten flights were cancelled, one plane returned to departure airport. At least five flights were delayed.

Flight delays are possible on Wednesday as the disruption affected crew rotations. Passengers are asked to follow airport information regarding their flights.

Moreover, NKVC director said that meteorological balloons were released in a coordinated manner as not all of them were heading for Vilnius Airport, suggesting they were released from different and widespread locations.

Weather balloons were found in Lazdijai, Druskininkai, Varėna and Šalčininkai district, whereas the latest surge was detected near Vilnius Airport.

Due to the security situation, two of the remaining border checkpoints with Belarus were closed at around 3 a.m.

Initial data suggests that there were several dozens of weather balloons.

Lithuanian border guards found at least 10 meteorological balloons with smuggled cigarettes overnight. Four suspects have been detained.

ELTA has learned from the State Border Guard Service (VSAT) that weather balloons were discovered in Lazdijai, Šalčininkai and Druskininkai municipalities after they landed, each was smuggling around 1,500 Belarussian cigarettes.

This is not the first time that meteorological balloons disrupt flights at Vilnius Airport. A similar incident occurred on the night from 4 to 5 October.