Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on November 6, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleBrussels Airport halted operations due to drone sightings, prompting emergency government action and international support.
By Charlotte Van Campenhout
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Operations at Belgium's Brussels Airport were temporarily halted on Thursday due to a drone sighting, a spokesperson for air traffic control Skeyes said on Thursday, without specifying how many drones had been seen.
Local media reported drones had been sighted in other parts of the country as well, among others at a military base.
The Belgian government had called an emergency meeting of key government ministers and security chiefs earlier on Thursday morning after drone sightings forced closures of airports and a military air base on Tuesday evening in what the defence minister called a coordinated attack.
Germany has said the Bundeswehr will provide Belgium with short-notice support in counter–drone capabilities.
Drones have caused major disruptions across Europe in recent months, forcing temporary closures of airports in several countries. Some officials have blamed the incidents on "hybrid warfare" by Russia. Moscow has denied any connection with the incidents.
(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout, Bart Meijer; Editing by Chris Reese)
A drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can be remotely controlled or fly autonomously using software-controlled flight plans.
Aviation safety refers to the measures and practices implemented to ensure the safety of aircraft operations and prevent accidents.
Emergency response is the organized approach to addressing emergencies, including the actions taken to manage and mitigate incidents.
Counter-drone measures are strategies and technologies used to detect, track, and neutralize unauthorized drones to ensure safety and security.
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