BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – Major Belgian airports, including the country's busiest hub, Brussels Airport, were thrown into chaos on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, after multiple, coordinated drone sightings forced a complete suspension of air traffic, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded overnight. The incident, which also targeted military airbases, has triggered a national security response and sent ripples across Europe's already tense aviation sector.

Air traffic control company Skeyes first halted all flights at Brussels Airport shortly before 8:00 PM local time (10:00 PM EAT) as a safety precaution. [4, 7] The airport briefly reopened after two hours, only to be shut down again following further sightings. [4, 7] The disruption resulted in at least 54 flight cancellations and 24 diversions by Wednesday morning, with between 400 and 500 passengers forced to spend the night in the terminal. [4, 19] Operations at Liege, one of Europe's largest cargo hubs, and Charleroi Airport were also suspended. [6, 20]

Simultaneously, drones were reported over the Kleine-Brogel and Florennes military airbases, key installations for the Belgian Air Force. [15] The Kleine-Brogel base is particularly sensitive as it is believed to house U.S. nuclear weapons. [5, 9] Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken described the incidents as a professional, coordinated operation intended to destabilize the country, stating, "this is not the work of amateurs." [9] Prime Minister Bart De Wever has since convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council to address what Interior Minister Bernard Quintin called a direct threat to the country's security. [5, 15]

A Pattern of European Airspace Violations

The Belgian shutdowns are the latest in a string of similar drone-related disruptions that have plagued European airports in recent months, raising concerns of a new form of hybrid warfare. Airports in Copenhagen, Oslo, and Munich have all faced temporary closures due to unidentified drones. [15, 16] In September 2025, drone incursions at Copenhagen Airport led to the cancellation of 77 flights and over 200 delays. [37] While the perpetrators behind these incidents remain unidentified, some European officials have pointed towards potential Russian involvement amid heightened geopolitical tensions, a claim Moscow has consistently denied. [7]

Implications for Kenya and East Africa

While no major Kenyan airlines have confirmed direct cancellations as a result of the Belgian shutdown, the incident serves as a critical alert for the East African aviation sector. The increasing sophistication and deliberate nature of these disruptions pose a significant threat to airport operations, passenger safety, and national security worldwide. The events in Europe underscore the vulnerability of even the most advanced airport security systems to relatively inexpensive and accessible drone technology.

Kenya has one of the more developed regulatory frameworks for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in Africa. The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) enforces strict rules under the Civil Aviation (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) Regulations, 2020. [29, 34] These regulations mandate that all drones must be registered, and operators flying for commercial purposes require a Remote Pilot License and insurance. [8] Flying drones near airports, military installations, and other sensitive areas is strictly prohibited without special permits. [8]

The Belgian incident demonstrates that robust regulations must be paired with advanced detection and counter-drone capabilities. As a major regional and international hub, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi represents a critical piece of infrastructure for Kenya and the wider East African region. The deliberate targeting of both civilian and military aviation sites in a coordinated manner, as seen in Belgium, presents a security challenge that Kenyan authorities at the KCAA and Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) will be closely monitoring. The incident may accelerate discussions on investing in and deploying sophisticated counter-UAS technologies to protect the country's airspace from similar malicious acts.

As of Wednesday, November 5, 2025, flights had resumed at the affected Belgian airports, but authorities warned that delays and cancellations would likely continue as operations normalize. [6, 19] The investigation into the identity and motive of the drone operators is ongoing.