Authorities closed the airspace over Brussels Zaventem Airport on Tuesday night after two separate drone sightings. The Belgian public broadcaster VRT confirmed that flights were first suspended around 8 p.m. when a drone appeared above the international airfield.
Brussels Airport briefly reopened after the first disruption but closed again following a second drone report. Planes initially diverted to Liège Airport faced further problems when Liège also suspended operations due to another drone sighting. A spokesperson for skeyes, Belgium’s airspace authority, said several flights were redirected to Ostend-Bruges and Charleroi Brussels South airports.
NATO and EU Heighten Defenses After Airspace Breaches
Both NATO and the European Union increased security readiness after a recent surge in airspace violations allegedly involving Russia. NATO warned Moscow at the end of September that it would defend all member territories using every available means. The statement followed the downing of Russian drones over Poland and Estonia’s report of Russian fighter jets entering its airspace.
Poland’s encounter on September 10 marked the first direct confrontation between NATO and Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Estonia said three Russian MiG-31 jets crossed its airspace for twelve minutes without clearance, a claim the Kremlin denied.
Europe Responds to Rising Russian Provocations
The recent incidents alarmed European leaders and renewed debate over NATO’s defensive readiness. In response, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the creation of the Eastern Sentry Programme to strengthen deterrence and support Poland.
“We see drones entering allied airspace. Whether deliberate or accidental, it remains unacceptable,” Rutte stated. “The allies stand firmly with Poland. We must counter every form of aggression and protect all NATO members.”
The repeated intrusions, combined with the drone disruptions in Belgium, underscored Europe’s growing concern about escalating aerial threats and the need for coordinated vigilance across the continent.
