Authorities closed Brussels Zaventem Airport’s airspace Tuesday night after reports of drones flying above the airfield. The incident halted all departing and arriving flights, the public broadcaster VRT confirmed. Officials briefly reopened the airport before shutting it again when a second drone appeared over the runway.
Liège Airport, which initially received diverted flights from Brussels, also suspended operations after a separate drone sighting. A spokesperson for Skeyes, Belgium’s civil airspace authority, said the first drone appeared around 8 p.m. local time, forcing flights to reroute to Ostend-Bruges and Charleroi Brussels South airports.
Officials remain uncertain about the drones’ origins as investigations continue.
NATO and EU Heighten Security Over Airspace Breaches
NATO and the European Union increased surveillance after several recent airspace violations believed to involve Russian aircraft. The incidents have stirred concern across Europe about Moscow’s growing aggression.
In September, NATO warned Russia that it would defend its airspace “by all means necessary” after Russian drones entered Poland and Estonian officials reported fighter jets crossing their borders. The September 10 breach in Poland marked the first direct confrontation between NATO and Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Estonia said three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace for 12 minutes without clearance. Moscow denied the accusation, dismissing it as “baseless.”
NATO Launches New Defence Programme in Response
The repeated intrusions prompted NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to announce the Eastern Sentry programme, a coordinated effort to deter further Russian incursions and reinforce regional security.
“We see drones violating our airspace,” Rutte said. “Whether intentional or not, such actions are unacceptable. NATO stands fully with Poland, and we will defend every ally against aggression.”
European leaders now face renewed questions about how prepared NATO remains against expanding Russian provocation as tensions continue to rise across the continent.
