Belgium to hold emergency security meeting over drone incidents

Prime Minister Bart De Wever supported Quintin’s call for an urgent meeting after the latest drone-related disruption, which occurred on the evening of Nov. 4. Unmanned aerial vehicles were spotted in the airspace above Brussels Airport, causing operational delays that continued into the morning of Nov. 5.

Le Soir reported that the National Security Council meeting could be held on Nov. 5 or 6. According to Quintin, Belgium’s National Crisis Center is monitoring the situation closely — not just at Brussels Airport, but also in Liège, where drones were also seen.

The minister emphasized that the safety of passengers and staff remains the top priority, and that police and other relevant agencies are continuing to assess the threat level.

“I believe this issue must be taken seriously. Calmly and seriously,” Quintin said. “After the work being done by the various agencies this morning during a coordination meeting, it’s necessary to assess the situation politically. What we’re facing is relatively new in scope. And it’s not just about Belgium.”

Earlier, during the night of Oct. 3, 15 drones were reported flying over the Elsenborn military base, located near the German border.

The Elsenborn base, which spans 28 square kilometers, serves as an army training camp and includes a security zone used for live-fire exercises and drone testing, local media reported.

Later, on Oct. 29, Defense Minister Theo Francken said Belgium had launched an investigation after several drones were spotted above the Marche-en-Famenne military base.

According to the minister, unidentified drones were observed twice flying over key areas of the army brigade’s headquarters.

In the early hours of Nov. 1, unidentified drones were again detected over the Kleine Brogel air base in the town of Peer, where U.S. nuclear weapons are stored.

Mayor Steven Matheï said a guard at the barracks spotted one of the drones. Police were dispatched, but no drones or operators were found during the search.

The Kleine Brogel air base is considered a critical site for Belgium’s national defense. It stores U.S. nuclear warheads and hosts American-made F-16 fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons. F-35 jets are also scheduled to be stationed at the base.

On Nov. 4, flights were temporarily suspended at airports in Brussels, Liège, and Charleroi due to drone sightings, with some flights redirected to other countries. Drones were also reported near Kleine Brogel, though their origin remains undetermined.