Flights suspended at Brussels airport after drone sightings

Flights were suspended Tuesday evening at Brussels and Liege airports in Belgium after drone sightings prompted security concerns.

This is only the latest of several such sightings across Europe in recent months.

A drone was first seen near the Brussels airport a little before 8 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) which led to a precautionary pause in flights. Many incoming planes were diverted and others were prevented from taking off.

The main airport in Brussels reopened after two hours, only to be closed again after more drones were spotted. It is still unclear when flights will resume. “There are no flights departing or arriving due to suspected drones,” a spokesperson said.

‘This is destabilisation’

The Liege Airport, mainly used as a cargo hub, also shut operations due to drone sightings, an airport spokesperson said.

The incident appeared to be carried out by professionals, Belgium’s Defence Minister Theo Francken told the nation’s public broadcaster on Tuesday night.

“They are trying to sow panic in Belgium,” he said. “This is destabilisation.”

Increasing drone incidents

Just days before, Francken reported drone sightings over Belgium’s Kleine Brogel airbase, which is used by NATO forces. Some local outlets reported more drone sightings over the airfield on Tuesday as well.

In September, Copenhagen Airport was closed for hours and the Oslo Airport for three hours after drone sightings.

Meanwhile, there have also been suspected Russian drone incursions in Polish and Romanian airspaces in recent months.