Air Traffic Halted at Vilnius Airport Due to Aerial Disruption Caused by a Drone
Drone Incident Causes Temporary Suspension at Vilnius Airport
On the night of Wednesday, August 20, 2025, air traffic at Vilnius Airport was temporarily halted for around 30 minutes due to a drone sighting. The incident caused delays for several incoming and outgoing flights, with one flight to Tel Aviv being delayed and other aircraft having to circle in holding patterns, resulting in delays of approximately 15 to 20 minutes [1][3]. Normal operations resumed at 12:35 am.
The drone was initially believed to belong to a private security company, Ekskomisarų Biuras, conducting a site inspection. However, the company later denied operating the drone in question [1]. Officials confirmed that the drone took off from Lithuanian territory and, despite initial concerns, no real danger to flight safety was present, with safety protocols working effectively [1].
The drone incident in Vilnius comes amidst broader security concerns and airspace restrictions in Lithuania. This summer has seen a pattern of drone incursions and airspace violations in the Baltic states, with Lithuania imposing a temporary flight ban on part of its border with Belarus through October 1, 2025, due to repeated drone incursions involving military-grade Russian-designed drones, some carrying explosives [4][5]. These incidents have raised security concerns, and Lithuanian officials have urged NATO to strengthen air defenses along the eastern flank [4][5].
Tadas Vasiliauskas, a representative of Lithuanian airports, confirmed the drone sighting. In response to the incident, Vilnius Airport intensified patrolling and monitoring in a specified direction. The drone was spotted overnight in Vilnius, and several other aircraft were in holding patterns in the airspace due to the incident [2][4][5].
An investigation and increased surveillance measures are ongoing regionally to address these threats. The exact origin and operator of the drone remain unclear, but the incident serves as a reminder of the increased drone activity in the region.
Read also:
- Auto Industry Update: Geotab, C2A, Deloitte, NOVOSENSE, Soracom, and Panasonic in Focus
- Preparations Underway for the 2022 FIFA World Cup: Impact on Sports Betting Industry
- Health Risk Warning: The Harmful Effects of Sitting Too Much, Exploring Sedentary Lifestyles
- Malicious software assaults are being ceased by PyPl by preventing access to a large number of outdated domain names.
