Part of Chinese rocket to fall in Latvia, aircraft to be diverted if necessary - provider

VILNIUS - The second stage of a Chinese rocket launched into space will re-eneter Earth's atmosphere on Friday and is expected to fall in Latvia, but Lithuania is prepared to respond if the forecast changes, says Saulius Batavicius, CEO of Air Navigation, the provider of navigation services in Lithuania.

"We will monitor the situation, and air traffic control is coordinating the process. So far, we have information that the forecast for where the object is expected to fall has changed slightly, and it is now predicted to fall in Latvia, whereas previously it was predicted to fall in Lithuania," Batavicius told the M-1 radio station's news service, adding that the rocket debris should fall at around 11 a.m., but the information is constantly being updated.

"We have been informed and are ready to respond if anything changes, to restrict traffic and redirect aircraft," said the CEO of Air Navigation.

According to him, it is difficult to say how much of the Chinese rocket will burn up and be destroyed in the atmosphere.

EU space surveillance and tracking operations centers have confirmed that they are actively monitoring the Chinese private company's Zhuque-3 rocket, launched into space in early December, and recommendations for possible route changes have been provided to air traffic controllers.

They warn that the 13-meter-long and 11-ton object will not burn up in the atmosphere due to its large size and poses a potential threat to the southern regions of Denmark and the Baltic states, but may also fall into the sea.

Due to the large size and mass of the object, experts warn of a potential danger, as well as a threat to air traffic in the possible impact zone.

According to EU space observers, the object is expected to fall at around 10.32 a.m., but there is a possible three-hour margin of error.