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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Rebecca Whittaker

Nato sends jet to airport ‘drone sighting’ that turned out to be flock of birds

  • Vilnius airport was briefly closed and a NATO fighter jet scrambled following a suspected drone sighting in Lithuanian airspace.
  • The air alert was lifted and the airport reopened within 38 minutes after the object was visually identified as a flock of birds .
  • An Italian air force jet stationed in northern Lithuania conducted the visual check after radar marks initially mirrored those of a drone.
  • Lithuania's National Crisis Management Centre confirmed the false alarm, which occurred amid heightened fears of Ukraine war spillover in the Baltic region.
  • The Vilnius marathon, which was taking place in the capital at the time of the alert, continued without interruption.

IN FULL

Nato jet scrambled to Lithuania ‘drone sighting’ turns out to be flock of birds

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