Rail And Air Incidents Disrupt Brussels Transit Night

Thursday evening in Belgium turned unexpectedly chaotic for hundreds of travelers as two separate transportation incidents unfolded—one on the rails between Hal and Brussels, the other on the tarmac at Brussels Airport. Both events, while ultimately resolved without injury, underscored the fragility of complex infrastructure and the vital importance of quick-thinking responses when things go awry.

It all began around 8:40 p.m. on February 6, 2026, when railway operator Infrabel detected a problem with the catenary—the overhead line that supplies electricity to trains—between Hal and Brussels-Midi. According to Infrabel spokesperson Frédéric Petit, “Thursday evening, around 20:40, a problem was detected on the catenary between Hal and Brussels-Midi.” This seemingly routine technical glitch would soon spiral into a major disruption for the region’s commuters.

With the exact location of the fault initially unknown, railway traffic between the two stations ground to a halt. It wasn’t until about 9:50 p.m., over an hour later, that maintenance teams pinpointed a 700-meter problematic stretch between Hal and Hal-Nord. By then, the ripple effects were already being felt across the network. Infrabel detailed that “traffic was locally diverted,” but the alternative route was fraught with its own complications—numerous level crossings and switches made smooth operations nearly impossible. As a result, many trains faced severe delays or outright cancellations.

The disruption was particularly acute for passengers on the P trains and the S7 line connecting Hal to Vilvoorde and Malines. Both services were suspended on the affected section, leaving travelers stranded and in need of assistance. In a dramatic turn, two trains became immobilized at Buizingen, a suburb just outside Brussels. That’s when the Western Flemish Brabant fire brigade stepped in, demonstrating both ingenuity and compassion. Using wooden pallets, firefighters constructed a makeshift path along the tracks, allowing the 360 passengers trapped aboard to reach waiting buses safely. It was a scene that could have come straight out of a disaster movie, but thanks to the quick action of emergency crews, everyone was evacuated without injury.

Infrabel worked through the night to restore the damaged catenary. By 9:15 a.m. on Friday, February 7, the company announced that repairs were complete and normal train service had resumed. “The situation is therefore back to normal,” Infrabel confirmed, bringing a sense of relief to commuters and railway staff alike.

But as railway workers toiled through the night, another drama was quietly unfolding just a few kilometers away at Brussels Airport. There, a Scandinavian Airlines flight bound for Copenhagen narrowly avoided what could have been a catastrophic mistake. As reported by local news outlets, the plane, scheduled to depart Thursday evening, “mistakenly entered a taxiway instead of the runway for takeoff.”

In the world of aviation, such errors are taken extremely seriously. Taxiways are meant for moving aircraft to and from runways—not for takeoff or landing. A plane attempting to take off from a taxiway could collide with other aircraft or ground vehicles, potentially leading to disaster. Fortunately, airport authorities and the flight crew recognized the error before any harm was done. The incident was classified as a “serious incident narrowly avoided,” and the flight was rerouted safely onto the correct runway after the mistake was discovered.

While the Scandinavian Airlines episode at Brussels Airport ended without injury or damage, it serves as a stark reminder of how easily routine operations can veer off course. Aviation experts note that incidents involving runway incursions or taxiway confusion, though rare, have been responsible for some of the most serious accidents in aviation history. That such an error was caught in time at Brussels Airport is a testament to the vigilance of both ground controllers and flight crews.

The dual disruptions on Thursday night—one on the rails, one in the skies—highlight the interconnectedness and vulnerabilities of Belgium’s transportation infrastructure. For passengers caught in the middle, the evening was a study in patience and adaptability. For authorities, it was a wake-up call to the importance of robust safety protocols and contingency planning.

In the aftermath, Infrabel faced questions about the resilience of its electrical infrastructure. Catenary problems are not unheard of, but the cascading effect of a single failure—leading to widespread cancellations, delays, and the need for emergency evacuations—underscores how much rides on the reliability of these systems. The rapid response of the fire brigade was widely praised, with many travelers expressing gratitude for their calm, practical approach during the evacuation at Buizingen. One passenger, who asked not to be named, described the experience as “unsettling, but handled with professionalism by the firefighters.”

At Brussels Airport, Scandinavian Airlines and airport officials launched an immediate investigation into how the taxiway error occurred. While no official statement was released at the time of reporting, sources close to the investigation indicated that both human and technical factors were being reviewed. The incident, while resolved without harm, will likely prompt renewed scrutiny of airport signage, pilot training, and ground control procedures.

For Belgium’s transport sector, Thursday night was a stress test—one that exposed weak points but also demonstrated the value of preparedness and cooperation. As the catenary was repaired and flights resumed their schedules, the country’s commuters and travelers could breathe a cautious sigh of relief. Yet, the memory of those tense hours lingers, serving as a reminder that even the best-laid plans can be upended in an instant.

Looking ahead, both Infrabel and Brussels Airport are expected to review their emergency protocols and infrastructure investments. If Thursday night’s events proved anything, it’s that resilience isn’t just about fixing problems when they arise—it’s about anticipating them before they happen. For now, life along Belgium’s rails and runways has returned to normal, but the lessons of February 6, 2026, won’t soon be forgotten.