Authorities closed Brussels Zaventem Airport after reports of multiple drone sightings disrupted air traffic on Tuesday night. The first drone appeared above the airport around 8 p.m. local time, according to skeyes, the public company managing Belgium’s civil airspace. Officials immediately suspended all departures and arrivals to ensure passenger safety.
Flights en route to Brussels were diverted to nearby airports, including Ostend-Bruges and Charleroi Brussels South. The airspace briefly reopened, but a second drone sighting forced another shutdown within hours. Public broadcaster VRT confirmed that operations were halted again late in the evening as security teams searched for the unmanned aircraft.
Liège Airport, which had been receiving diverted flights, also suspended activity after a separate drone was detected over its airfield. Aviation officials and police units launched investigations at both airports to determine the source of the incursions. Witnesses reported seeing flashing lights hovering above runways shortly before the closures.
NATO and EU Increase Airspace Security
The incidents in Belgium occurred amid heightened alert across Europe following a recent wave of airspace violations suspected to involve Russia. Both NATO and the European Union have intensified surveillance of sensitive zones near major cities and military bases. Intelligence agencies believe some of the unidentified drones could be reconnaissance devices launched from foreign territory.
In late September, NATO issued a stern warning to Moscow after Russian drones entered Polish airspace and were shot down. The alliance declared that any further violations would trigger a firm defensive response. “We will use all necessary means to protect the integrity of our airspace,” a NATO spokesperson said at the time.
Tensions rose further when Estonia reported three unauthorized Russian MiG-31 fighter jets crossing its airspace for 12 minutes. The Kremlin denied the accusation, but Baltic leaders condemned the action as an intentional provocation. European officials fear that these repeated intrusions mark an escalation in Russia’s testing of NATO’s readiness.
Eastern Europe Responds to Growing Tensions
The September breach over Poland represented the first direct confrontation between NATO and Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The incident prompted NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to announce the creation of the Eastern Sentry program. The initiative aims to reinforce border surveillance and strengthen cooperation among eastern member states.
“We continue to see drones and aircraft violating allied airspace. Whether intentional or accidental, these actions are unacceptable,” Rutte said. “Our allies stand fully behind Poland and our eastern partners. We will defend every inch of NATO territory.”
European leaders expressed deep concern over the implications of these events. Belgium’s Interior Ministry said it was coordinating closely with NATO to assess whether the drone activity over Brussels could be linked to the broader pattern of airspace breaches. Officials also deployed anti-drone technology at strategic locations, including military installations and airports, to prevent further disruptions.
As investigations continue, travelers face flight delays and heightened security screenings. The drone incidents over Belgium have intensified fears that Europe’s skies are becoming the latest front in an ongoing geopolitical standoff—one where a single unmanned aircraft could trigger an international crisis.
