Italian NATO jets shoot down drone that entered Lithuania from Belarus
Italian fighter jets deployed on NATO’s Baltic air policing mission shot down an unidentified drone that entered Lithuanian airspace from Belarus shortly after midnight on Sept. 15, Lithuanian authorities said. Officials said there was a high probability the drone was carrying explosives.
The drone entered Lithuanian airspace several minutes after midnight, prompting authorities to issue air alerts for several areas, including Vilnius, Trakai and Elektrėnai.
About 30 minutes later, Italian fighter jets operating from Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base as part of NATO’s air policing mission shot the drone down near the village of Pratkūnai in the Kaišiadorys district, between Kaunas and Kaišiadorys.
Preliminary data indicate that the drone entered Lithuania from Belarus and traveled west through the Trakai area, according to Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Center.
Authorities have recovered debris from the drone and cordoned off the crash site. Officials said there was a high probability that the aircraft was carrying an explosive charge. No casualties or damage have been reported.
Investigators are working to determine the type and specifications of the drone, as well as its intended target. Lithuanian authorities said they would not draw conclusions about the incident until the investigation is complete.
Operations at Vilnius Airport and the surrounding airspace were temporarily restricted because of the threat. Two incoming flights were slightly delayed before normal operations resumed.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda thanked NATO personnel for their rapid response.
“As Russia intensifies its aggression against Ukraine, such readiness is vital for our region. Together with NATO allies, Lithuania will defend its airspace,” he said.
- Share: