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Dozens of flights at Brussels Airport were canceled Wednesday following overnight drone sightings that temporarily shut down operations, prompting Belgium’s Prime Minister Bart De Wever to call an emergency meeting with senior ministers over growing security concerns.
The incident marks the first time Brussels Airport has been forced to close due to drone activity. The shutdown comes in the wake of a series of unidentified drone flights over the weekend near a military base where U.S. nuclear weapons are reportedly stored, raising alarm among Belgian officials.
Brussels Airport officials confirmed that 54 flights were canceled as a result of Tuesday evening’s closure, which was implemented for safety reasons. Approximately 400-500 travelers were stranded overnight after 41 flights were canceled and 24 others diverted to alternative airports. The airport set up temporary beds and distributed water and snacks to accommodate affected passengers.
“The safety of our passengers and staff remains our top priority,” the airport said in a statement apologizing for the disruption.
In response to these incidents, Prime Minister De Wever has scheduled a meeting of Belgium’s National Security Council for Thursday morning. The council includes the country’s defense, interior, justice, and foreign ministers, underscoring the seriousness with which Belgian authorities are treating these events.
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin expressed concern over the pattern of drone sightings, stating on social media that “the repetition of incidents linked to drones directly affects the security of our country… We must take action in a calm, serious and coordinated manner.”
While the operators behind the recent drone activities remain unidentified, Defense Minister Theo Francken has suggested deliberate intent. “This is not the work of amateurs,” Francken stated, though he did not provide specific details to support this claim.
Earlier this week, Francken characterized the weekend drone flights near Kleine-Brogel air base as “a spying operation” designed to “destabilize” the population. According to the defense minister, the operation occurred in two distinct phases. The first involved small drones testing radio frequencies used by Belgian security services for jamming such flights, while the second phase employed larger drones operating on different frequencies to circumvent the jammers.
This isn’t the first time military installations in Belgium have faced such incidents. Last month, several drones were spotted above another Belgian military base near the German border, with operators remaining unidentified.
The disruptions in Belgium mirror similar incidents across Europe. Just last Friday, a late evening drone sighting at Berlin’s Brandenburg airport suspended flights for nearly two hours, with authorities unable to identify those responsible.
Belgium’s strategic importance in the European security landscape adds another dimension to these incidents. The country hosts both NATO headquarters and the European Union’s main institutions. It also houses Europe’s largest financial clearinghouse, which currently holds tens of billions of euros in frozen Russian assets – a point of significant geopolitical tension.
Many EU member states have been pushing to use these frozen Russian assets as collateral for loans to Ukraine, but Belgium has thus far shown reluctance. Prime Minister De Wever warned EU leaders last month about possible Russian retaliation if the assets were to be confiscated.
The timing and targeting of these drone incidents have raised questions about possible connections to broader geopolitical tensions, though officials have not publicly drawn such links. As drone technology becomes more accessible and sophisticated, airports and critical infrastructure across Europe face growing challenges in maintaining security against these aerial incursions.
Belgian authorities are expected to announce additional security measures following Thursday’s National Security Council meeting.
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10 Comments
The disruption to flights and stranded passengers is unfortunate, but airport safety has to be the top priority. Hopefully the authorities can quickly identify the source of these drones and prevent any future incidents.
Agreed. While the inconvenience to travelers is regrettable, the safety of the aviation system has to come first in these kinds of situations.
Flight cancellations due to drone activity are becoming an increasingly common problem worldwide. Airport operators and regulators need to stay vigilant and invest in the latest counter-drone technologies to mitigate these risks.
Absolutely. Drone detection and interdiction capabilities have to be a top priority for airports and national security agencies going forward.
It’s good to see the Belgian government taking this drone incident seriously and convening an emergency meeting. Decisive action will be needed to restore public confidence in the safety of air travel.
The timing of these drone sightings, near a military base with reported U.S. nuclear weapons, raises serious security questions. I hope the Belgian government can get to the bottom of this situation swiftly and effectively.
Yes, the proximity to sensitive military sites makes this a very concerning situation. Tight coordination between civil and military authorities will be essential.
This is concerning news about the drone sightings at Belgium’s main airport. Safety should be the top priority, even if it means disrupting flights. Hopefully the authorities can quickly identify and address the source of these drones to prevent further incidents.
Agreed, aviation security is critical. The authorities will need to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the origin and purpose of these drone flights.
Drone sightings near airports pose a major aviation safety hazard that needs to be addressed through a combination of technological, regulatory, and enforcement measures. I hope the Belgian authorities can get a handle on this situation quickly.