Photo Credit: Lithuanian Army/Handout/REUTERS

NATO fighter jets have shot down a drone that entered Lithuanian airspace early Tuesday, in the first such incident reported by the country.

Lithuanian authorities said the drone likely entered from neighbouring Belarus and flew west for about 30 minutes before being intercepted by an Italian fighter jet between Vilnius and Kaunas.

The drone crashed near Pratkunai, about 80 kilometres west of Vilnius.

Lithuanian Air Force Commander Antanas Matutis said it was likely carrying explosives, although officials could not determine whether it was Russian or Ukrainian.

President Gitanas Nauseda thanked NATO for its swift response, while Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said the incident demonstrated the alliance’s readiness to defend its members.

NATO has maintained Baltic Air Defence over Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia since 2004. Similar suspected Ukrainian drone incidents have previously occurred in Estonia and Latvia.