Brussels Airport was forced to shut down temporarily due to drone sightings in its airspace, causing disruptions to flight operations. The airport’s air traffic control service, Skeyes, reported that a drone was spotted near the airport around 8 pm local time, prompting authorities to suspend all air traffic as a precautionary measure. This incident follows a similar occurrence over the weekend, where drones were spotted over a Belgian military base.
The temporary closure of Brussels Airport resulted in significant disruptions, with several flights being diverted to nearby airports such as Maastricht and Cologne. Liege Airport, used primarily as a cargo hub, was also affected by the drone sightings, with flights being redirected. According to Flight Aware, a US-based flight tracking website, 59 flights were canceled and 43 delayed at Brussels airport.
The Belgian authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, with Minister of the Interior Bernard Quintin emphasizing the need for a coordinated national response to prevent such disruptions. Defence Minister Theo Francken suggested that the incident might be carried out by professionals intent on destabilizing the country. This incident is part of a larger trend of mysterious drone sightings near civilian airports and military facilities in Europe, raising concerns about security and the potential for hybrid warfare.
