From an idea by Bjorn Ulfsson, CTIF, executed by MS Co-Pilot.

05 Nov 2025

Drone sightings at Brussels and Stockholm airports start questions about airport safety across Europe

Brussels Airport was forced to close after multiple drone sightings, grounding flights and diverting traffic, in an incident that echoes a similar disruption at Sweden’s Arlanda Airport just weeks earlier.

On the evening of November 4, 2025, Brussels Zaventem Airport, Belgium’s busiest hub, was shut down after air traffic controllers reported drones flying over the airfield.

Timeline: The first sighting occurred around 8 p.m. local time, prompting an immediate suspension of departures and arrivals. After a brief reopening, the airport was closed again following a second drone sighting.
Impact: At least 15 outbound flights were grounded and eight incoming flights diverted to other airports, including Ostend-Bruges and Charleroi.
Spread of disruption: Liège Airport, a major European cargo hub, was also closed after drones were reported in its vicinity.
Security concerns: Belgian officials described the incidents as “professional” in nature, raising fears of deliberate attempts to destabilize critical infrastructure. The closures followed earlier drone activity over Belgian military bases.

Sweden’s Arlanda Airport Incident

Just weeks before the Brussels disruption, Sweden’s largest airport, Arlanda near Stockholm, was also forced to suspend operations due to drone activity.

Date: Early September 2025.
Details: At least four unidentified drones of different sizes were spotted near the airport.
Response: Authorities halted flights for several hours, diverting planes to Gothenburg and Nyköping.
Investigation: Swedish police launched a probe, suggesting the incident may have been deliberate. The Swedish Armed Forces confirmed they were monitoring the situation, amid broader concerns about Russian-linked hybrid threats in the region.

Broader European Context

These incidents are part of a wider pattern of drone-related disruptions across Europe in 2025:

Copenhagen and Oslo airports were temporarily closed in September after drone sightings.
Munich Airport was forced to suspend operations twice in 24 hours.
NATO has warned of increased airspace violations involving drones, some linked to Russian military activity.

Key Takeaways

Drone incursions are a growing threat to civil aviation, capable of grounding flights and disrupting cargo flows within minutes.
Airports are vulnerable targets, and even unconfirmed sightings can trigger costly shutdowns.
Authorities are treating these incidents as potential hybrid attacks, blending civilian disruption with geopolitical pressure.

In summary:

The Brussels and Arlanda closures highlight how drones—whether operated recklessly or deliberately—pose a serious challenge to European air safety. Both incidents underline the urgent need for enhanced counter-drone systems, coordinated airspace monitoring, and international cooperation to protect critical aviation infrastructure.

Illustration Credit: From an idea by Bjorn Ulfsson, CTIF, executed by MS CoPilot.

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