Major Airport Disruption as Drones Force Closure
Brussels Airport, Belgium's main international airport, experienced severe disruptions on November 4-5, 2025, when multiple drone sightings forced the facility to close twice, leaving between 500 and 1,000 passengers stranded overnight. The airport provided beds, food, and drinks for the affected travelers who had to sleep in the departure halls.
The drone incidents began around 8 PM local time when the first unmanned aircraft was spotted near the airport, prompting immediate closure of airspace. After briefly reopening, the airport was forced to shut down again at 10 PM following additional drone sightings, finally resuming normal operations around 11 PM.
Widespread Flight Cancellations and Delays
The disruptions had significant consequences for air traffic, with at least 16 flights cancelled and another 10 experiencing delays the following morning. Eight incoming flights had to be diverted to alternative airports including Ostend, Charleroi, Maastricht, Schiphol, and Eindhoven.
'We cannot accept that our airports are disrupted by unauthorized drone flights. This requires a coordinated and national response,' stated Interior Minister Bernard Quintin, who has requested an urgent meeting of the National Security Council.
Multiple Military Bases Also Targeted
The drone incidents weren't limited to civilian airports. The military airbase at Kleine Brogel, which stores U.S. nuclear weapons, experienced multiple drone sightings over the weekend. Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken described the operation as sophisticated and coordinated, noting that 'the drones used their own frequencies and evaded our jamming systems.'
According to local reports from Belgian broadcaster VRT, residents also reported drones over the Florennes military airbase, where Belgium's first F-35 fighter jets are stationed. The base at Kleine Brogel has been placed on heightened alert following the repeated incidents.
National Security Response
The Belgian government is treating the situation with utmost seriousness. Prime Minister Bert de Wever has agreed to convene the National Security Council following Interior Minister Quintin's request. The exact timing of the emergency meeting hasn't been announced, but officials indicate it will happen imminently.
Defense Minister Francken has characterized the drone operations as professional work aimed at 'sowing panic and destabilization' across Belgium. The incidents follow a pattern of mysterious drone sightings across Europe in recent months, with similar disruptions reported at Copenhagen and Oslo airports in September.
Security experts suggest these incidents represent a new form of hybrid warfare, with some intelligence services linking them to Russia. The sophisticated nature of the operations, including frequency-changing capabilities that bypass jamming systems, indicates professional operators rather than amateur drone enthusiasts.
As investigations continue, Belgian authorities are working to enhance their air defense capabilities and develop more effective counter-drone measures to prevent future disruptions to both civilian and military aviation operations.