Drone sightings caused disruption to air traffic at Brussels Airport in Zaventem (Flemish Brabant) and Bierset Airport near Liège on Thursday evening. Flights at both airports have since resumed. There are also reports of drones having been spotted above the port of Antwerp, the Royal School for Non-Commissioned Officers in Sint-Truiden and the nuclear research centre in Mol.
Thursday's incident marks the second time in a week that air traffic at Brussels Airport had to be halted due to drone activity. As a precautionary measure, flights to and from Zaventem were suspended for half an hour from around 9:20pm on Thursday after a drone was spotted there.
The agency responsible for air traffic control in Belgium Skeyes says that the suspension of flights is standard procedure in the event of a "serious sighting". 8 depatures and 22 arrivals had been scheduled for the period during which flights were suspended on Thursday evening.
National Security Council
Meanwhile, Bierset Airport near Liège, air traffic was also suspended from shortly before 10pm until 11:30pm on Thursday due to a drone sighting. The standard procedure was implemented there too.
An emergency meeting of Belgium’s National Security Council was held on Thursday morning to discuss the threat posed by drones following recent sightings above army bases airports and other strategic infrastructure.
Prior to the meeting, Defence minister Theo Francken said that he wanted to make the country's National Airspace Security Centre operational as soon as possible and increase counter-drone capabilities.