Authorities closed the airspace over Brussels Zaventem Airport on Tuesday night after reports of a drone flying above the runway. Belgium’s public broadcaster VRT said officials suspended all departing and arriving flights following the first sighting. The airport briefly reopened before a second drone appeared, forcing another shutdown.
Liège Airport, which initially accepted diverted flights, also halted operations after a separate drone sighting. Earlier, a spokesperson for Skeyes, the company managing Belgium’s civil airspace, confirmed the first drone appeared around 8 p.m. local time. Flights were then redirected to Ostend-Bruges and Charleroi Brussels South airports as a safety precaution.
NATO and EU Heighten Alert After Airspace Breaches
Both NATO and the European Union increased security readiness following a series of recent airspace violations believed to involve Russia. These incursions have included drones and fighter jets crossing into NATO territory. NATO warned Moscow in late September that it would defend all allied airspace using every available measure.
The warning followed Russian drone incidents over Poland and Estonia’s claim that Russian MiG-31 jets violated its airspace. Estonia reported that three fighter jets entered its territory for 12 minutes without permission—a charge Russia denied. NATO described the repeated incursions as reckless and unacceptable.
Eastern Europe Strengthens Defenses Against Russian Threats
The September 10 drone incident in Poland marked the first direct encounter between NATO and Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The event sparked concern across Europe about the alliance’s readiness to counter escalating Russian aggression.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the launch of the Eastern Sentry programme to deter further intrusions and reinforce Poland’s security. “We have seen drones violating our airspace,” Rutte said. “Whether deliberate or accidental, it is intolerable. NATO stands fully with Poland. Defending every ally remains our highest priority.”
European leaders continue monitoring the situation closely as NATO and EU forces stay on heightened alert to prevent further violations and protect their skies.
