A major European travel hub was brought to a standstill on Sunday evening as Vilnius Airport suspended all operations due to a mysterious 'balloon threat'.
The sudden closure left passengers stranded and forced incoming flights to be diverted to other cities, creating significant disruption for air travellers.
Airspace Restrictions Triggered
The crisis began at 6.09pm on Sunday, 30 November 2025, when airspace restrictions were abruptly implemented over the capital city's airport.
Officials confirmed the suspension would remain in effect until at least 9pm the same evening.
In an official statement, the airport revealed: "Preliminary information indicates that the decision to impose airspace restrictions was triggered by navigational markers, typical of balloons, moving toward Vilnius Airport."
Flight Diversions and Passenger Impact
The airspace closure had immediate consequences for scheduled flights.
A Ryanair flight travelling from Oslo to Vilnius was among the affected aircraft, being diverted to Kaunas Airport (KUN) in Lithuania.
Meanwhile, a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Vilnius was redirected to Riga, according to the airport's website.
The incident represents one of the more unusual causes of air travel disruption in recent European aviation history.
Ongoing Situation
As authorities work to resolve the situation, passengers remain affected by the unexpected closure.
The nature of the balloon threat and its origin remain under investigation as airport officials and aviation authorities assess when normal operations can safely resume.
This remains a developing story with further updates expected throughout the evening.
