Belgium’s Brussels and Liege airports were shut down on Tuesday evening following drone sightings, leading to the diversion of several incoming flights and the halting of departures.
Kurt Verwilligen, a representative for the Belgian air traffic control service, reported that a drone was spotted near Brussels Airport, prompting its closure as a safety measure.
Although Belgium’s busiest airport briefly resumed operations after a two-hour disruption, it was soon shut down again due to additional drone sightings, leaving the timeline for flight resumption uncertain.
Brussels Airlines, the national carrier, disclosed that 15 outbound flights were grounded, with eight incoming flights redirected to alternative airports.
Liege Airport, primarily utilized as a cargo center, was also impacted by drone sightings, confirmed an airport spokesperson.
The drone incidents at the airports followed previous occurrences of drones flying over a Belgian military air base during the weekend.
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken expressed to public broadcaster RTBF that the latest drone incident seemed orchestrated by experienced individuals aiming to destabilize the nation.
Across Europe, drones have caused significant disruptions in recent months. In September, Copenhagen Airport was closed for four hours, Oslo Airport for three hours, and there were suspected Russian drone intrusions into Polish and Romanian airspace. Munich’s airport also faced closure twice within a 24-hour span due to drone-related issues.
The continued drone incursions have raised concerns about security and safety at airports, requiring concerted efforts to address these emerging threats effectively.