The Vilnius international airport in Lithuania was temporarily shut down for about 75 minutes on the evening of the incident, following the detection of weather balloons that had entered its airspace from Belarus. This incident is part of a concerning pattern, as the airport has been closed at least 11 times since early October due to similar occurrences. The continuous threat posed by these balloons to aviation safety has raised alarms among Lithuanian authorities.

The Lithuanian Crisis Management Center reported around 8:30 PM that the weather balloons found in the area's airspace posed a safety risk for flights. This has led to significant operational disruptions at the airport, which is located only 30 kilometers from the Belarusian border. While the immediate danger was resolved and airport operations have been restored, the frequency of such incidents highlights an ongoing issue with airspace security in the region.

Lithuania has alleged that these balloons are being sent by smugglers operating from Belarus, with the government holding Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko accountable for failing to halt these practices. The recurrence of such incidents not only affects flight safety but also raises tensions between Lithuania and Belarus, prompting concerns about the security implications of these aerial intrusions.