Media: Part Of Chinese Missile May Fall In Latvia

• 30.01.2026, 14:07

The Lithuanians are also on alert.

The second stage of a Chinese rocket launched into space is due to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere on Friday and is expected to fall on Latvian territory, but Lithuania is also ready to react if the situation changes.

This is according to LRT.

General Director of Lithuanian Air Navigation Saulius Batavicius said that air traffic controllers are closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with the relevant authorities.

"We are monitoring the situation and the air traffic control service is coordinating the process. Now we have information that the forecast regarding the place where the object fell has slightly changed and now assumes a fall in Latvia, while earlier it was predicted to fall in Lithuania," Batavicius said in a radio broadcast.

"We have been informed and we are ready to react in case of any changes - to restrict air traffic and redirect airplanes," Batavicius said.

He added that it remains unclear what part of the Chinese rocket will burn up as it passes through the atmosphere.

The EU's space surveillance and tracking operations centers have confirmed that they are actively monitoring the Zhuque-3 rocket, which was launched by a private Chinese company in early December. Air traffic controllers have already been advised on possible changes to flight routes.

European space monitors warn that the 13-meter-long object, weighing about 11 tons, is unlikely to burn up completely due to its size and could pose a potential threat to southern Denmark and the Baltic states, although it is also possible that it could fall into the sea.

Because of the object's size and mass, experts warn of potential hazards, in particular the risk to air traffic within the possible impact zone.