Lithuania: Balloons used to smuggle cigarettes shut Vilnius airport

Officials say 25 weather balloons carrying thousands of illicit cigarettes from Belarus were detected.

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The National Crisis Management Centre (NCMC) told the BBC that 25 meteorological balloons were detected entering Lithuania from neighbouring Belarus, two of which ended up directly over the airport.

The airport said the shutdown led to 30 flight cancellations affecting 6,000 passengers. It warned that there may still be delays on Monday.

The "airspace violations" come at a time of heightened tension in Europe after a number of drone incursions, suspected of being linked to Russia, caused air traffic disruption.

Moscow has denied any involvement in the recent incidents.