Suspected drone sightings have disrupted flights at airports across Belgium, with no flights departing or arriving at Brussels Airport - the country's busiest - as of Tuesday evening.
Air traffic was suspended around 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT) due to a reported drone sighting and, although the airport briefly reopened an hour later, it was closed again shortly after.
Liege Airport has also faced significant disruptions, with no clear indication when flights will resume. Additionally, local media have reported drone sightings at the Kleine-Brogel and Florennes military airbases.
This incident adds to a troubling trend of drone sightings causing air travel disruptions across Europe, with similar instances reported in cities like Munich, Copenhagen, and Oslo.
A statement from Brussels Airport confirmed the ongoing situation, mentioning, There are currently no departing or arriving flights due to drone sightings around the airport. We monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as soon as we have more information. Pictures from inside the airport showed camp beds being set up for stranded passengers.
Officials at Charleroi, Belgium’s second-largest airport, also reported temporary air traffic halts as a precautionary measure.
Flights were initially diverted to Liege, which has since closed, leading to further diversions to airports in Ostend, Charleroi, Eindhoven, and Maastricht.
This marks the fourth consecutive night of reported drone sightings near the Kleine-Brogel military base, prompting an investigation by Belgian authorities, who suspect a targeted mission against the base.
Reports over the weekend indicated drone sightings near airports in Ostend and Antwerp's Deurne regions.
