Фото: Kristaps Ungurs, unsplash.com
Lithuania has canceled the previously announced possible air raid alert, Delfi reported. The alert was canceled after NATO fighter jets determined that the objects detected by radar were a flock of birds rather than drones.
A yellow threat level was declared on September 13 following the suspected detection of a drone in the country’s airspace. Residents of Vilnius, Vilnius district, Trakai and Elektrėnai districts received warnings.
NATO fighter jets were scrambled to check the object. Italian Eurofighter Typhoons currently patrol the airspace of the Baltic states from their base in Šiauliai.
“The fighter jets were scrambled to identify the object. They determined that the objects detected by radar were a flock of birds. The silhouettes of birds and drones are very similar on radar screens, so additional verification is needed to establish the circumstances,” the National Crisis Management Center said.
At 1:37 p.m., the Lithuanian Armed Forces reported that the threat had passed.
During the alert, Vilnius Airport suspended takeoffs and landings. Operations resumed after the threat was lifted.