VILNIUS, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- An air alert issued in Vilnius and surrounding areas on Sunday over a suspected aerial threat was lifted after the object detected by radar was found to be a flock of birds, according to Lithuania's National Crisis Management Center.
The alert was issued shortly after 1 p.m. in Vilnius city, Vilnius district and the districts of Trakai and Elektrenai. It remained in force for just over half an hour, Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reported.
"The air alert has been lifted and everyone can relax. If there are no changes in the radar readings, the situation is over," said Vilmantas Vitkauskas, head of the National Crisis Management Centre.
A NATO fighter dispatched from Siauliai Air Base also helped confirm that there was no continuing threat.
Flights to and from Vilnius Airport were temporarily suspended during the alert. The airport reopened to flights at around 1:52 p.m. after the restrictions were lifted. ■
