A yellow-level air threat alert in Vilnius county was lifted on Saturday after authorities confirmed that a radar contact initially suspected to be a drone was in fact a weather balloon drifting in from Belarusian airspace.

Axar.az reports, citing LRT, Lithuania’s Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas said the object had initially shown characteristics consistent with an unmanned aerial vehicle, prompting NATO air policing fighters to be scrambled as a precaution.

The alert was downgraded shortly before 11 a.m., returning the status to white, meaning normal activity could resume.

“The object has been identified as most likely a meteorological balloon rather than a drone, and residents have been notified that the air threat has been lifted,” said Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Centre.

He added, “Nevertheless, we recommend remaining vigilant, as similar objects may appear again.”

Vitkauskas also urged residents to keep mobile phones nearby to receive emergency alerts and noted that the response system was activated due to the object’s initial radar signature.

“If there were a new incident, people would have time to think about where the nearest shelter is,” he said. “Vigilance is needed, but at present we do not see any incident approaching.”