European Airports Close Temporarily After Further Drone, Balloon Sightings

Lithuania had blamed prior airport closures on smugglers in Belarus using meteorological balloons to transport elicit cigarettes across the border.

In this undated photo released by the State Border Guard Service, an officer inspects a balloon used to carry cigarettes into Lithuania. Belarusian smugglers often use them to ferry contraband into the European Union. State Border Guard Service via AP

Two airports in Europe were forced to temporarily close due to separate drone and balloon sightings in recent days, marking the latest disruptive incursions into European airspace in recent months.

Lithuania’s Vilnius Airport on Nov. 24 said in a statement that it had resumed operations after having to close its airspace twice overnight due to balloon sightings.