According to Mayor Steven Matheï, one of the drones was spotted by a barracks employee. Police were dispatched to the scene but, after searching the area, found neither the devices nor their operators.
“Police found neither the drone nor the pilot. The report has been forwarded to the Ministry of Defense and military intelligence,” the mayor said.
It remains unclear whether the incident was an act of espionage or a provocation meant to cause panic. The municipality has asked the Defense Ministry to meet with local law enforcement to strengthen security around military sites.
“It is extremely important to ensure an adequate level of security around the air base, and we expect the Defense Ministry to take all necessary measures,” Matheï stressed.
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken confirmed that several drones had been detected over the base. He said the investigation is ongoing and emphasized the need for additional CUAS systems to detect and neutralize drones.
“Next week, the Defense Ministry will meet with local police to assess the threat. We must find and arrest the drone operators. Flights over military bases are strictly prohibited, and the army must have the means to shoot them down,” he said.
Kleine-Brogel Air Base is a key NATO facility in Europe, housing U.S. nuclear weapons and soon to host F-35 fighter jets.
According to HLN, drones were also seen over the Leopoldsburg base the same night, though police have yet to confirm that incident.