Authorities closed Brussels Zaventem Airport on Tuesday night after reports of a drone flying above the airfield. Belgium’s public broadcaster VRT confirmed that all departures and arrivals stopped when the first drone appeared. Officials briefly reopened the airspace but shut it again after a second sighting.
Liège Airport, which had taken diverted flights from Brussels, also suspended operations after another drone incident. Earlier that evening, a spokesperson for skeyes, Belgium’s air traffic control authority, said the first drone appeared around 8 p.m. local time. Flights were redirected to Ostend-Bruges and Charleroi Brussels South airports as a precaution.
Both NATO and the European Union remain on high alert amid recent airspace violations believed to involve Russia.
NATO Warns Moscow After Multiple Airspace Breaches
NATO issued a sharp warning to Russia in late September, vowing to defend all alliance members against further incursions. The alliance made the statement after Russian drones were downed over Poland and Estonia reported unauthorised entries by Russian fighter jets.
The 10 September incident in Poland marked the first direct confrontation between NATO and Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Days later, Estonia said three Russian MiG-31 jets entered its airspace for twelve minutes without clearance, a claim Moscow denied.
European leaders reacted with alarm, questioning the region’s readiness to respond to growing Russian aggression. NATO said the pattern of intrusions demanded a stronger collective defence.
Eastern Sentry Programme Launches to Strengthen Defences
Following the Polish airspace breach, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced the creation of the Eastern Sentry programme. The initiative aims to deter future Russian incursions and reaffirm unity among member nations, particularly Poland.
“We see drones violating our airspace. Whether intentional or not, this cannot be tolerated,” Rutte said. “Our allies stand in full solidarity with Poland. We must counter every act of aggression and defend every inch of the Alliance’s territory.”
As tensions rise, European airspace remains under close surveillance, with both NATO and the EU treating each violation as a potential act of provocation.
