Belgian authorities closed Brussels Zaventem Airport on Tuesday night after reports of a drone flying over the airfield. Public broadcaster VRT confirmed that officials suspended all departures and arrivals when the first drone appeared above the international hub.
The airport briefly reopened before closing again after a second drone was spotted. Liège Airport, which initially received diverted flights, also shut down when another drone was seen in its airspace. A spokesperson for skeyes, Belgium’s airspace authority, said the first sighting occurred around 8 p.m. local time. Flights were redirected to Ostend-Bruges and Charleroi Brussels South as a safety measure.
Both NATO and the European Union remain on high alert after several suspected Russian airspace violations across Europe in recent weeks.
Rising Tensions as Russian Aircraft Breach NATO Airspace
At the end of September, NATO warned Moscow that any further airspace violations would provoke a strong response. The warning followed the downing of Russian drones over Poland and an unauthorized flight of fighter jets over Estonia.
The September 10 drone incident in Poland marked the first direct confrontation between NATO and Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Estonia reported that three Russian MiG-31 jets entered its airspace for 12 minutes without clearance. The Kremlin denied the accusation, but European leaders expressed alarm over the repeated intrusions.
The incidents triggered urgent discussions among NATO members about strengthening their collective defense posture and monitoring capabilities along the alliance’s eastern flank.
NATO Launches Eastern Sentry to Deter Future Incursions
In response to the Polish airspace breach, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced a new defensive initiative called the Eastern Sentry programme. The plan seeks to deter future Russian incursions and reaffirm NATO’s commitment to its eastern members.
“We see drones violating our airspace,” Rutte said. “Whether intentional or not, this behavior is unacceptable. The allies stand fully with Poland. We must counter aggression and defend every nation in our alliance.”
NATO officials said the organization will increase surveillance and intelligence-sharing efforts to prevent further violations, while EU leaders urged member states to stay vigilant amid growing fears of Russian provocations.
