NATO Jet Scrambled over Suspected Drone in Lithuania

Lithuania closed Vilnius Airport on Sunday after NATO scrambled at least one fighter jet in response to a possible drone sighting in Lithuanian airspace, the country's National Crisis Management Center confirmed.

The air alert was lifted and the airport reopened after about an hour.

The center said the fighter jet was scrambled from Siauliai in northern Lithuania, where Italian air forces are currently stationed as part of a NATO mission providing air defense for the Baltic states.

Countries along NATO's eastern border have reported a series of drones straying into their airspace in recent months in connection with the conflict in Ukraine.

(Reuters, max)