Belgium Sees Surge in Suspicious Drone Sightings

(MENAFN) Belgium’s National Crisis Centre (NCCN) received 558 reports of suspicious drone activity between September 2025 and January 21, 2026, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said Tuesday.

Speaking before the relevant parliamentary committee, Quintin noted that the first sightings occurred on November 4, according to reports. The incidents continued over the following days, causing Brussels Airport in Zaventem and Liege Airport to suspend air traffic nine times—seven times in November and twice in December.

Of the 558 reports, 130 involved drones over military sites and 66 over nuclear facilities, with others observed above airports and Seveso-class industrial locations. Quintin cautioned that the total number of sightings may be inflated while some drone flights may have gone unreported.

He highlighted that the peak of drone activity occurred in November, adding that the NCCN met on November 6 but did not activate a pre-alert or full alert under the National Emergency Plan.

"The security services' assessment was that there was no imminent danger to our citizens or infrastructure, but rather acts of intimidation and disruption, likely linked to a state actor, in this case, Russia," Quintin said.

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