Air traffic at Brussels Airport resumed late Tuesday night after being suspended twice due to drone sightings near the airport. Flights were grounded between 8pm and 9.30pm and again from 10pm to 11.15pm, according to air traffic controller Skeyes.
The disruptions caused significant delays and cancellations, with 28 flights affected—12 departures and 16 arrivals. Airlines such as Air Malta and Emirates managed to depart late Tuesday evening, while several incoming flights, including from Helsinki and Tangier, were cancelled.
A Ryanair passenger jet and a DHL cargo plane were among those diverted. Several flights were rerouted to Maastricht and Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, with some initially diverted to Liège before drones were also spotted there.
According to Skeyes, there is currently no evidence linking the drone sightings over Brussels and Liège. Eurocontrol confirmed additional disruptions at regional airports in Antwerp, Ostend, Liège, and Charleroi, where air traffic was briefly suspended as a precaution.
This marks the first time Brussels Airport has had to suspend operations due to drones, though similar incidents have occurred recently in Copenhagen, Oslo, Aalborg, and Munich.
At nearly the same time, six drones were detected near the Kleine-Brogel military airbase in Limburg province—a location believed to host American nuclear weapons and Belgian F-16 jets. Local police visually confirmed two drones but failed to intercept them.
“It remains unclear who is behind these incidents,” said Mayor Steven Matheï, confirming that Defence and federal police were monitoring the situation. A Defence Ministry helicopter was deployed but did not detect further activity.
Reports also emerged of drones over the Florennes airbase, home to Belgium’s newly delivered F-35 fighter jets. Over the past week, multiple drone sightings have been reported above military installations, prompting heightened security measures.
Belgium’s army has been authorised to shoot down drones over military areas if it can be done safely. However, officials admit that targeting small, agile drones is highly challenging.
Defence Minister Theo Francken hinted that Russia could be behind the incursions but said no evidence yet supports that theory. The Defence Committee is set to meet Wednesday morning behind closed doors to address the growing drone threat.
Francken plans to fast-track government approval for purchasing new detection systems, jammers, and anti-drone weapons during Friday’s cabinet meeting, underscoring the urgency of protecting Belgium’s airspace.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
