Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken (N-VA) has cancelled plans to land a fighter jet and a drone at the military airport in Melsbroek on Friday afternoon, citing concerns about the temporary closure of Brussels airspace.
The planned operation would have involved an F-35 fighter jet and a SkyGuardian drone landing at Melsbroek, adjacent to Brussels Airport, as part of an informal demonstration for NATO allies. However, the event would have required a brief shutdown of air traffic at one of Europe’s busiest hubs.
According to sources cited by the Belga News Agency, all departures and arrivals at Brussels Airport were expected to be suspended for roughly 15 minutes while the aircraft landed. Air traffic control duties would have been temporarily transferred from civilian to military controllers at the Air Traffic Control Centre (ATCC).
Speaking on Flemish television on Thursday evening, Francken explained his decision. “The intention was to land a SkyGuardian drone and an F-35 at Melsbroek, but apparently the airspace has to be closed for that,” he said. “So I said, if that is the case, then it is not happening.”
The minister clarified that he was not directly involved in the initiative, which had been organized to showcase Belgium’s new defence capabilities to around 50 invited guests, including NATO officials. The aircraft were to take off from Florennes in Namur Province and land in Brussels around noon.
“When it became clear that the airspace would have to be closed for 15 minutes when the aircraft landed, I decided not to go ahead,” Francken added. “Closing Zaventem airport for 15 minutes on Friday afternoon, the busiest day for air traffic, is not the best idea.”
The decision effectively cancels what would have been one of the first public demonstrations of Belgium’s newly acquired F-35 fighter jet and the advanced SkyGuardian surveillance drone, both of which represent major investments in the country’s modern defence infrastructure.
However, the cancellation has sparked political backlash, particularly from Vlaams Belang. Federal MP Annick Ponthier criticized the plan as a “prestige project” that would have unnecessarily disrupted civilian operations and wasted public resources.
“At a time when the government is seeking billions in savings, it is pure madness to shut down airspace and airport operations for a prestige project,” Ponthier said. “This show flight does not serve the country’s security, but only the minister’s ego.”
She further highlighted concerns about the military’s current challenges. “It’s an insane disconnect that the country’s economic engine is being crippled while our armed forces are struggling with personnel shortages, outdated equipment, and a lack of operational effectiveness.”
Francken’s decision to cancel the demonstration has been widely viewed as a move to avoid unnecessary disruption and criticism, particularly on a busy travel day. For now, Belgium’s newest military aircraft will remain on display elsewhere—without closing down the skies above Brussels.
