Flights at Belgium’s Liege airport were temporarily halted on Friday, November 7, 2025, after a drone was spotted in the area, marking the second such disruption at the major European cargo hub in less than a week. According to the country’s air traffic control service, Skeyes, the drone was sighted at approximately 7:30 a.m. local time (06:30 GMT), prompting authorities to close the airport for about 30 minutes. Operations have since resumed, but the incident has added to growing concerns about aviation security and the mysterious wave of drone incursions affecting Belgium and other European countries.
The latest disruption follows a string of similar events earlier in the week. On Tuesday, November 4, drones were detected over both Brussels and Liege airports, forcing the diversion of incoming flights and grounding of planes scheduled to depart. The impact was immediate and significant: dozens of passenger and cargo flights were cancelled, and roughly 500 passengers found themselves stranded overnight at Brussels airport, as reported by Reuters and other outlets. The situation has been described by officials as unprecedented in scale and frequency, especially for Belgium, which is home to two of Europe’s busiest cargo airports.
"We have to take every report seriously," said Kurt Verwilligen, spokesperson for Skeyes. His comment underscores the heightened state of alert among aviation and security authorities, who are grappling with a phenomenon that has quickly escalated from nuisance to national security concern. The frequency of drone sightings over airports and military bases in Belgium has increased sharply in recent days, mirroring similar disruptions seen across Europe since September.
In fact, just days before the latest airport shutdown, three unauthorized drones were reportedly seen near a Belgian military base on November 2, according to Defense Minister Theo Francken. This incident, coupled with the airport disruptions, prompted the Belgian government to convene an emergency meeting on Thursday, November 6. Key government ministers and security chiefs gathered to address what Francken has called a "coordinated attack," though specifics about the perpetrators remain elusive. “Sightings of drones over airports and military bases have become a constant problem in Belgium in recent days,” noted Reuters.
The Belgian incidents are not isolated. Since September 2025, a pattern of drone incursions has emerged across Europe, with civilian airports and military facilities in countries such as Denmark, Germany, Norway, and Sweden experiencing similar disruptions. For example, Sweden’s airports were temporarily closed on Thursday, November 6, after drone sightings, further highlighting the continental scope of the problem. The trend has raised alarms among European security agencies, who fear that the incidents may be part of a broader campaign of "hybrid warfare."
Hybrid warfare is a term used by military and intelligence experts to describe tactics that fall short of traditional armed conflict but are intended to destabilize or exert pressure on adversaries. Denmark’s intelligence service has explicitly linked the recent spate of drone flights to Russia, suggesting that the aim is to "put pressure on [Europe] without crossing the line into armed conflict in a traditional sense," as reported by Reuters. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed these concerns, calling the incursions "hybrid warfare" and warning that their goal is to "sow division" within Europe.
Despite these suspicions, there is no direct evidence tying Russia to the Belgian drone incidents or those elsewhere in Europe. Moscow has consistently denied any involvement. Nevertheless, the context of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine and recent drone-related provocations near NATO’s eastern borders have kept suspicions high. In September, Polish and NATO forces shot down drones that violated Polish airspace during a Russian aerial attack on Ukraine, further fueling concerns about escalation and spillover effects.
The Belgian government’s response has been swift but measured. Thursday’s emergency meeting brought together ministers and security officials to coordinate a national strategy. According to the country’s defense ministry, the goal is to improve detection, response times, and inter-agency cooperation to prevent future disruptions. The challenge is formidable: drones are inexpensive, widely available, and difficult to track, especially in urban or densely trafficked airspace. The incidents have exposed vulnerabilities not just in Belgium’s aviation sector, but across the continent.
For passengers and airlines, the consequences have been immediate and tangible. The forced overnight stay for hundreds of travelers at Brussels airport earlier this week was a stark reminder of the ripple effects that even a single drone can have on the aviation system. Cargo operators, too, have voiced concerns about delays and losses, given the critical role that airports like Liege play in Europe’s supply chains.
Security experts warn that as drones become more sophisticated and accessible, incidents like those seen in Belgium could become more frequent and harder to prevent. Some have called for stricter regulations, improved technology for drone detection and neutralization, and greater international cooperation. The European Union is reportedly exploring new legislative measures and investment in counter-drone technologies, though such efforts will take time to implement.
Meanwhile, the Belgian public and political establishment remain on edge. The prospect of deliberate, coordinated attacks—whether by state or non-state actors—has injected a new sense of urgency into debates about national and European security. As one official put it, "We are in uncharted territory. The rules of engagement are changing, and we have to adapt quickly."
As flights resume at Liege and Brussels, the immediate crisis appears to have passed, at least for now. But the broader threat posed by rogue drones—whether as tools of espionage, sabotage, or psychological warfare—remains unresolved. The coming weeks will likely see intensified efforts to secure European skies, as governments, airlines, and security agencies race to stay one step ahead of a rapidly evolving challenge.
The events of this week have made it clear: the age of drone disruption has arrived in Europe, and Belgium is on the front lines.
