Belgium’s Brussels and Liege airports faced closures on Tuesday evening due to drone sightings, resulting in the diversion of incoming flights and preventing others from taking off. Kurt Verwilligen, a spokesperson for the Belgian air traffic control service, reported a drone sighting near Brussels Airport just before 8 p.m. local time, leading to the closure of the airport as a precautionary measure.
Following a brief reopening after two hours of disruption, Brussels Airport was shut down again due to additional drone sightings, with no clear timeline for flight resumption. Brussels Airlines, the national carrier, indicated that 15 outbound flights were grounded, and eight incoming flights were redirected to alternative airports.
Simultaneously, Liege Airport, primarily utilized as a cargo hub, also suspended operations due to drone sightings, as confirmed by an airport representative. These incidents followed recent drone sightings over a Belgian military air base during the weekend.
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken, speaking on public broadcaster RTBF, suggested that the drone incident on Tuesday seemed orchestrated by professionals aiming to destabilize the nation. Europe has experienced significant disruptions caused by drones in recent months, with Copenhagen Airport and Oslo Airport being temporarily closed in September due to similar incidents. Suspected Russian drone intrusions into Polish and Romanian airspace have also been reported.
Moreover, Munich Airport had to shut down twice within a 24-hour period due to drone activities. These occurrences have raised concerns about the motives behind drone incursions and their potential impact on aviation security.
It is essential for authorities to address the growing threat posed by drone disruptions at airports to ensure the safety and efficiency of air travel.