Belgium closed the airspace over Brussels Zaventem Airport on Tuesday night after reports of a drone flying above the airfield. The public broadcaster VRT confirmed that officials suspended all departures and arrivals following the sighting. The airport briefly reopened before shutting again when a second drone appeared.
Liège Airport, which had initially accepted diverted flights from Brussels, also halted operations after a separate drone sighting. A spokesperson for skeyes, Belgium’s civil airspace authority, said the first incident occurred around 8 p.m. local time. Flights were redirected to Ostend-Bruges and Charleroi Brussels South airports for safety.
Authorities remain on high alert as investigations continue into who operated the drones and how they breached restricted airspace.
NATO and EU Heighten Security Over Airspace Breaches
NATO and the European Union raised their alert levels following several suspected Russian airspace violations in recent weeks. The alliance warned Moscow in late September that it would defend against any further incursions after Russian drones entered Poland and fighter jets crossed into Estonia.
The September 10 event in Poland marked the first direct NATO-Russia confrontation since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Estonia reported that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace for twelve minutes without authorization. The Kremlin denied the accusations, calling them unfounded.
European leaders expressed alarm over the repeated violations, demanding stronger defensive coordination and faster responses to potential threats.
NATO Launches Eastern Sentry to Deter Further Incursions
In response, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the Eastern Sentry programme to strengthen defenses along the alliance’s eastern flank. The initiative aims to deter future Russian incursions and demonstrate unity with Poland.
“We see drones violating our skies,” Rutte said. “Intentional or not, it’s unacceptable. Allies stand fully with Poland. We must counter aggression and defend every NATO member.”
The series of drone and fighter jet incidents has reignited debate over Europe’s preparedness for escalating Russian provocations, placing NATO’s air defenses under renewed scrutiny.
