The Vilnius Airport Faces Collapse from Smuggled Balloons
The international airport of Vilnius, Lithuania, was forced to close overnight due to an influx of hot air balloons carrying illegal cigarettes from Belarus. The incident disrupted thousands of passengers and led to flight diversions and border closures. Tobacco smugglers use modified meteorological balloons to transport cigarettes to the EU, dropping them in remote areas. The problem has been escalating, with hundreds of balloon incursions recorded in recent years. The Lithuanian government has responded by calling for urgent action to address the situation and prevent further incidents.
