Disruption at Belgian Airports Due to Drone Sightings

Fri Dec 05 2025 08:06:43 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Flight operations at key Belgian airports, including Brussels, were severely impacted by confirmed drone sightings, casting doubt on air travel safety in the region.

Suspicious drone sightings led to the suspension of flight operations at Brussels Airport, Belgium's busiest. This occurred as drone activity was also reported at other terminals and military bases, raising concerns over airspace security. Officials are monitoring the situation closely amid ongoing investigations.

Suspected drone sightings have disrupted flights at airports across Belgium on Tuesday, with no flights departing or arriving at Brussels Airport - the country's busiest.

Air traffic there was suspended around 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT) following a drone sighting. An hour later, it briefly reopened, only to close again shortly after.

Liege Airport has also been affected, and it remains unclear when flights will resume. Local media have reported drone sightings at the Kleine-Brogel and Florennes military airbases as well.

This incident adds to a series of disruptions due to drones at European airports, including those in Munich, Copenhagen, and Oslo.

A statement on the Brussels Airport website read: There are currently no departing or arriving flights at Brussels Airport 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 show makeshift bedding being prepared for stranded passengers.

Airport officials at Brussels's second-largest airport, Charleroi, confirmed that air traffic was briefly halted there as a precaution as well. Initially, flight diversions were made to Liege, which also closed shortly thereafter due to suspected drone activity.

Continuing disruptions have led flights to be redirected to nearby airports in Ostend, Charleroi in Belgium, Eindhoven, and Maastricht in the Netherlands.

Reportedly, this marks the fourth consecutive night of reported drone sightings over Kleine-Brogel, a significant military base near the Dutch border. Belgium's defence minister, Theo Francken, disclosed an ongoing investigation, deeming the activity a targeted mission aimed at Kleine-Brogel.

Other drone sightings were also recorded near Ostend and Antwerp's Deurne airports over the past weekend, according to Belgian news sources.