Lithuania temporarily closed Vilnius Airport after as many as 25 small hot-air balloons—some carrying smuggled cigarettes—entered its airspace late on October 4, disrupting 30 flights and affecting approximately 6,000 passengers. Flights resumed the next morning.
Border police recovered 11 balloons and 18,000 packs of contraband cigarettes across Vilnius. Two balloons flew directly over the airport, according to spokesperson Darius Buta. Authorities recorded balloon activity between 8:45 pm (local time) on October 4 and 4:30 am the following day.
The incident follows a series of airspace violations in the region. In July, a Russian-made drone from Belarus crashed in Vilnius County, and another carrying explosives was found at a military training site. Lithuania has since authorized its armed forces to shoot down unauthorized drones.
Officials say Belarusian smugglers increasingly use balloons—cheaper than drones—to transport cigarettes into the EU. Lithuania intercepted 966 balloons last year and has recorded 544 so far in 2025. While authorities classify these incursions as criminal, they stop short of labeling them sabotage.
The latest events are among many disruptive incidents throughout aviation history, sparking anxiety among air passengers worldwide. Explore this gallery for a roundup of the most unusual airport incidents and accidents in history.