Lithuania's Vilnius and Kaunas airports were closed on Friday due to meteorological weather balloons flying in from Belarus, the country's transport ministry has said, according to Reuters.
In this undated photo released by the State Border Guard Service, an officer inspects a balloon used to carry cigarettes into Lithuania, because Belarussian smugglers often use them to ferry the contraband into the European Union. (AP)
This is the third time the airports have been shut in a month due to balloons entering from the neighbouring country again.
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Earlier this week on Tuesday, some 30 flights and more than 4,000 passengers were affected when dozens of helium weather balloons drifted towards the Vilnius Airport, according to Reuters.
Lithuania had also shut both border crossings with Belarus, an ally of Russia, after the incidents.
Prior to that, air traffic was stopped at the airport on October 4 after a series of balloons were seen heading toward Vilnius Airport.
According to Bloomberg, contraband-laden balloons are a frequent occurrence along the border with Belarus as smugglers send cheap cigarettes into the European Union’s black market.
The balloons can ascend to high altitudes and disrupt border radar, but they lack navigation systems and their landing sites are unpredictable.
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Home/World News/Two Lithuanian airports shut after balloons enter from Belarus, 3rd incident this month
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