Overview
- Brussels and Liège airports were shut twice on Tuesday night after drone sightings, with Charleroi pausing arrivals as a precaution, and operations only stabilizing after overnight reopenings.
- Around 400–500 passengers spent the night at Brussels Airport, and dozens of flights were canceled, delayed or diverted, leaving knock‑on disruption into Wednesday.
- Sightings were also reported near sensitive military sites including Kleine Brogel and Florennes, and the defense minister said the activity appeared coordinated, professional and intended to destabilize.
- Officials launched formal probes to determine how many drones were involved and to evaluate counter‑drone gaps after earlier base incursions reportedly evaded jamming and helicopter pursuit.
- Belgium’s incidents track a broader European pattern, with recent shutdowns reported in Copenhagen, Oslo and Gothenburg, and Denmark’s intelligence service linking similar flights to Russian hybrid tactics.