Drone alert in Europe

Drone disappears after alarm: “Lost signal”

Authorities in Lithuania continue to have many question marks to clear up after a drone violated the NATO country’s airspace on Wednesday. The drone, which caused the country to activate the air alert, has, among other things, disappeared and no one knows where it has gone, Lithuanian media reports.

According to the defense forces, the drone was last registered near the town of Merkine in southern Lithuania.

– We lost the signal around that area. If it has crashed, it is there, otherwise we simply lost the signal and can no longer see it, says Defense Chief Nerijus Stankevicius according to Lrytas.

The drone is said to have crossed the border from Belarus. Stankevicius states that both Lithuania and Latvia were alerted by the Belarusian military that a drone may be heading towards the country.

Lithuania's emergency services say it is still unclear what type of drone it was and who fired it.

Lithuanian airspace violated by drones – airstrike in Vilnius

A drone violated Lithuanian airspace on Wednesday, causing the airstrike to be activated in parts of the NATO country. The drone came from Belarus and made it all the way to Lentvaris outside Vilnius, according to Lithuanian media.

The population of the capital was urged to seek shelter and both the president and prime minister are reported to have taken shelter, AFP media reports.

About an hour after the country's national crisis center urged the capital's residents to seek shelter, it was announced that the danger was over. NATO fighter jets were sent into the air and are reported to be chasing the drone.

The airstrike was issued as a standard measure "to ensure the safety of residents" in the event of potential threats to the country. Some flights from Vilnius Airport were canceled due to the drone alert.
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