NATO Jet Scrambled Over Lithuania After Suspected Drone Turns Out to Be Birds

A NATO fighter jet was scrambled from Šiauliai after a possible drone was detected near Vilnius, prompting the temporary closure of Lithuania’s international airport. The alert was lifted and flights resumed within 38 minutes after the aircraft visually identified the object as a flock of birds. Officials said radar signatures from birds and drones can initially look similar. The incident reflects continuing concern over drones entering Baltic airspace amid Russia’s war against Ukraine and heightened NATO air-policing activity in region.