On the evening of September 2, Vilnius airport security alerted the air navigation company, Oro Navigacija, about a suspicious drone in the Lepkalnis area. As a precaution, take-offs and landings were temporarily suspended, causing a delay in the landing of the plane carrying Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.
Authorities later confirmed that the drone posed no actual threat, and air traffic operations were resumed. According to the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the drone had been deployed for advertising purposes but did not comply with established safety regulations.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation by the relevant authorities. The public will be informed as soon as additional information becomes available.
In response to the event, the Ministry of Transport plans to convene a meeting with representatives from Lithuanian airports and Oro Navigacija to review security measures, assess future plans, and identify areas requiring improvement.
This episode follows a broader pattern of aviation-related security concerns in the region. On August 31, it was reported that the GPS system on the plane carrying European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had been disrupted en route to Bulgaria, with authorities suspecting Russian interference.
