Brussels Airport to Resume Flights after Drone Sightings
Zaventem Airport in Belgium's capital expected to return to normal operations on Wednesday following halt of flights due to suspected drone activity.
Brussels Airport, the main airport in Belgium’s capital, is anticipated to resume regular flight schedules on Wednesday.
The airport halted approximately 80 flights after reports of suspected drone sightings, according to a spokeswoman.
Around 400-500 passengers were required to spend the night at Zaventem Airport due to these incidents, as informed by Brussels Airport spokesperson Ariane Goossens to AFP.
The situation is expected to normalize throughout the day as flight operations recommence.
On Tuesday evening, air traffic was also temporarily suspended at Charleroi, Belgium’s second-largest airport, following similar drone sightings, according to operators there.
Skeyes, the Belgian air traffic control company, suspended flights twice on Tuesday night around 8:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) and 10:00 p.m. (2100 GMT), in response to suspected drones near Brussels-Zaventem Airport and Liege Airport.
Recent incidents involving drones targeting airports and military installations have been reported across multiple European countries, including Germany and Denmark.
Concerns over potential Russian involvement in these incidents have risen amidst ongoing tensions related to the Ukraine conflict, now entering its fourth year.
Over the weekend, Belgian authorities detected drone activity over the Kleine-Brogel military base, where it is believed that US nuclear weapons are stored.
The Belgian military intelligence is currently investigating these sightings.
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken stated on Monday that while he did not attribute blame to Russia directly, indications pointed towards a coordinated operation conducted by ‘professionals’.
Francken described the incident as an attempt to instigate panic in Belgium, viewing it as an act of destabilization.
The airport halted approximately 80 flights after reports of suspected drone sightings, according to a spokeswoman.
Around 400-500 passengers were required to spend the night at Zaventem Airport due to these incidents, as informed by Brussels Airport spokesperson Ariane Goossens to AFP.
The situation is expected to normalize throughout the day as flight operations recommence.
On Tuesday evening, air traffic was also temporarily suspended at Charleroi, Belgium’s second-largest airport, following similar drone sightings, according to operators there.
Skeyes, the Belgian air traffic control company, suspended flights twice on Tuesday night around 8:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) and 10:00 p.m. (2100 GMT), in response to suspected drones near Brussels-Zaventem Airport and Liege Airport.
Recent incidents involving drones targeting airports and military installations have been reported across multiple European countries, including Germany and Denmark.
Concerns over potential Russian involvement in these incidents have risen amidst ongoing tensions related to the Ukraine conflict, now entering its fourth year.
Over the weekend, Belgian authorities detected drone activity over the Kleine-Brogel military base, where it is believed that US nuclear weapons are stored.
The Belgian military intelligence is currently investigating these sightings.
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken stated on Monday that while he did not attribute blame to Russia directly, indications pointed towards a coordinated operation conducted by ‘professionals’.
Francken described the incident as an attempt to instigate panic in Belgium, viewing it as an act of destabilization.
