Overview
- Air traffic at Eindhoven was halted for several hours Saturday evening after repeated drone sightings, then resumed around 10:40 p.m. local time once no drones were seen for 30 minutes and runways were checked.
- Audio between pilots and controllers captured at least four drones reported near the airport, shifting counts through the evening, and detailed the closure protocol used by the tower.
- At Volkel Air Base, guards first saw five and later ten drones on Friday night, with ground fire used in an attempt to down them; drones were also detected again over Volkel on Saturday, but no wreckage was recovered.
- Defence leaders say they have no indication the devices were armed, investigations into origin are ongoing, and police and the Royal Marechaussee were deployed at both sites.
- Flights were diverted to other airports and some passengers were stranded overnight; authorities highlight detection and interception limits and note ongoing investment in counter‑drone systems and radar infrastructure.