# Lithuania says drone sighting turns out to be flock of birds, after NATO summons jets

> **Newsylist Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-09-13 13:29 UTC · Category: World · Sources: 8 · Current Velocity: 9.19

## Executive Summary
Lithuanian authorities issue an all-clear after a security alert sparked by a possible drone sighting prompts NATO to scramble jets and close Vilnius airport.

## Intelligence Brief
The all-clear was subsequently given after the suspected threat was identified as a flock of birds. Reporting on the origins of the alert diverges significantly.


Outlets including Reuters, The Independent, and Sky News report that the sighting turned out to be birds. In contrast, Ukrainian National News cites the army commander stating that Russian drones flying to attack Ukraine ended up in Lithuania due to electronic warfare.


Coverage does not yet specify whether electronic warfare played a verified role in the incident or how officials reconciled the conflicting accounts regarding birds versus stray drones. Future updates will likely clarify the official sequence of events.

## Verified Facts & Key Claims
### What caused the air alert in Lithuania?
Authorities initially suspected a drone sighting, which prompted NATO jets to scramble and Vilnius airport to close, though the sighting ultimately turned out to be a flock of birds according to multiple outlets.

### Did electronic warfare cause drones to enter Lithuania?
Ukrainian National News cited the army commander stating that Russian drones ended up in Lithuania due to electronic warfare, while other reports focused on the flock of birds conclusion.

### Is Vilnius airport still closed?
No, Lithuanian authorities issued an all-clear following the earlier potential drone sighting.

## Key People, Organizations & Locations
Ukraine, Russian, NATO, Drone, Lithuania, Lithuanian, Vilnius

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Published (UTC) | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| reform.news | Possible Drone Reported in Lithuanian Airspace | 2026-09-13 15:46 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiekFVX3lxTFBMS0R4SmVzaVFoZTZOeGVBUTBsSTNrTFcyWFhjQndYYkZpRlJxYmFva0tXZWc1eDl1MUZLTkVWbUpsei10QWpNMVcteFZiang4ejhYSVdyYWM5Sko4WEctOGJTaS11STR5YmZsY2E0YndlTTNEakhwX3ZB0gF_QVVfeXFMTlRKdUt2c3BxdVBLeFlpVWVjT1pweW1xbDBSMnREMjloQkhBWnl6ZTBwRHAyRnRQWUxtb1Vrb1JnSUVaSEZCVlp2TF84LXUxeXR5OVZfR1RZZ2prU08xbzhoaFJXV2RkWlJTSjYyU2t5bGhmUHhVSGlUWkhzOE50OA?oc=5) |
| Мілітарний | Unknown Object Flew From Belarus to Russia’s Kaliningrad Region Through Lithuania | 2026-09-13 11:39 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiswFBVV95cUxOT3kyS1NGSEo2YzE0TmFvemZ5d3dQRkFYamNrZ2RHclNTOWJvWXprSFJzWEZsbEZmcGdSMEtwV19KOEgwQUFZTXJEa2lNa1pYdXFjZEpITWhtS2ZVdi1tLWNLNDljM1RJX0kxaXB4cXpLNzdtRUlMZ1ZiQ3E3T08wZWI5T3ZFMFp5bGR6SFZaWHlmaUZJN1dLRmdfNXRpelJ2U2tZSk1DWDMwd1YzelJxMENVTQ?oc=5) |
| LRT | Lithuania issues possible air alert warning over potential drone sighting | 2026-09-13 11:39 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxQMEV3WnFGZkJqcEJqYVU4RmhTWWREdUZ2b1VYU1B0OTU1d0IxVG9uY1loeVMwSHFDb2tOWkE1bHBFYWZPRXdKTVg2Ml85d1VjanV6bjV5SmUySTl2WVNjZy1WLVhRX1R0QUpCcnJxangxbGl2LVZ0SWJPOXdES2VNUHRwUEhaNzFKcDMwY3NxendrQV9ReDU5eVQzUVBPQXNfdnZoMjQ2Zms0RERKYVVhUnY0LTZXMXMtSlh3M0wxQQ?oc=5) |
| Українські Національні Новини (УНН) | Russian drones were flying to attack Ukraine, but due to electronic warfare, they ended up in Lithuania, says the army commander | 2026-09-13 11:39 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi4gFBVV95cUxQMnBpS0lIdU1RSDhDci1naFQwcDBxb3FvaGUzTUY4U1FDazA2bFdGdTdJQVdwNHFUOGZ4MVJucnQzNEF6a3RCT0F3dUlmQlQ3aEVSZENZSXBKTXdabHZpSlRBblFtZUJ2YThQdHVVeWxYRWVEbFBqa2kxM1pxRjkyOHl0V0ZOelBCZTNrdkJvWl9xNFYxbmdfV2xsOEdxYXViQnF1ZUZUbFJTdnpRTW0wZG1IOEhzSmhaTGhEVGNLczdCX2lmSXd1b3BNdFVjSkVBM3JoX3dZY0ZJVG1xVnpoLUd30gHgAUFVX3lxTE5zbDN2MTRKVVh1Y0RRc1JYaVFINmd6ZGgwbF9GcFRfU3RJLVp6TXZkZ2RrcEhFbVE2aTFFcnpuNFQtWGs3ZG9nMVV1ZjgyZHBaRHp6MENqSUtFdTZfalgweFBUUXlCQnBsMXlBbDI3MlB) |
| LRT | Lithuanian authorities issue all-clear following earlier potential drone sighting | 2026-09-13 11:39 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiygFBVV95cUxQZ3YzYmxBd3hVNG04ZUphWTdPbnQ3czJkTWZ4cTNVanJqVGIycURSX1FWTUtDWXNtYnlfdlpfUWJlUnFoRjZVelpSanlqNGd2bVpNcG9nVjlycExZeHdxVFEzTFlDbm5CWFpBMWM5a0dPYXNYT0JEUDRwS2syc3FCVE1XelltbjFKRnNna3ViWnBEYVd3Q05fZGVpYVhnZmhpMHF2VVM5cGJScDluNHRfOUZrVjdUZ1B0VUVDMXdFTFhqYnc3MG9ld2J3?oc=5) |
| The Independent | Nato jet scrambled to Lithuania ‘drone sighting’ turns out to be flock of birds | 2026-09-13 11:39 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxOamw3ZzNEOWhjek01RlZ0OHNIVEFieXJWUzlnaG1VbjBSQXFSM3pna0NRckhCUjQ4S3NXRkN5SzVUZUlfUF9xcC16WTNGV0NWb3d6YTVWZGJ3emdMVHNuZ0xjMEdCQ3YtektoaVZ6LUZRTHZOUlJOVjNjcElRd3FvYldMaXQ0VjFiS3lMY21wTnJES2hoUnlxMXpJR2ppYVp3MjV0U214SVBJM1ZmSFE?oc=5) |
| Sky News | Drone alert over Lithuania turns out to be flock of birds | 2026-09-13 11:39 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgFBVV95cUxQYXBxUE9JU3h2bFMtdU1Yak9DeTQ4VEs5cFpEc0VGS0l2aWs4NUdyNDVkNllBVnhMUFVqZU9PM3ZnZVlzZ3BZM0Z1ajVYVVd6cGQ5RTkyUGcwZVVobUlDcm1QbXJpQVNQVGs4VEs4UjlwTHZsS2puSHo5WGk5YllFWkp5ODB5TzE2ZlcwSmk1QzlFSjJQa2lheEhlV3F3dzlVeEczVl9CT0s0NjRyUGFOalRzX1RPQQ?oc=5) |
| The Times of Israel | Lithuania closes Vilnius airport, NATO summons jets in response to possible drone | 2026-09-13 11:39 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixAFBVV95cUxQZk9SUGdRMHBDNmJORmdILVlWanYwY1gyT0ZUQ0YwcU4xY1hCdzY4R3dXdTZMb1k1T3Rmc25LZm9MNWZzR0xiemhRd2trTG1XWWlGc1ZfYlVyeUx2aDF2N2NLekZBZ1JoNVhLVEcxVndlRGRXM29mT2pOMDVFN1J6eC1KSmlUMXNfeXA2ellMMmNFX1pqOUxCOF9vVmp6OXRqSDU5VkVXNmVMMmVOY3pnRXFMVk96Nk81eF9KNHpuZlp2bFpi?oc=5) |
| Reuters | Lithuania says drone sighting turns out to be flock of birds, after NATO summons jets | 2026-09-13 11:39 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0wFBVV95cUxNaFhfNEJ3cEZwOURCeW84SEFKRXM3Y0VlWUFlTVJxbDg5NVNCNDhESXViQnkwOC1vN3Z3dEhieU15VWY5bms1ZWJ1U0pkemREcm1pTU1DbzF0eVBEUW1HYkZBUnp5QkJ5U3ktNWoybGxGUWpqNm5BdktlYkFnWlNKd2FZNUJJV2JBRGxzSzdxWUhObXAxVlpfQjFSZlhJQUNUeUdqcU01Sm4wUEQyeUN4ZXFxdlNGak8zd0RKTU5fd2t6RzdldTIweWtBcWd3WWJyamhJ?oc=5) |

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