Vilnius Airport closed over 'balloon threat' as passengers left stranded

A major European airport has suspended operations due to a "balloon threat".

Planes have been diverted from Vilnius Airport in Lithuania after airspace restrictions were imposed over the capital's airport at 6.09pm (4.09pm GMT). The suspension is expected to last until 9pm.

"Preliminary information indicates that the decision to impose airspace restrictions was triggered by navigational markers, typical of balloons, moving toward Vilnius Airport," the airport said.

A Ryanair flight traveling from Oslo to Vilnius was among those diverted and has been rerouted to Kaunas Airport (KUN). A Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Vilnius was diverted to Riga, while a Finnair flight from Helsinki to Vilnius turned back to Helsinki, according to the airport’s website.

Vilnius Airport has