Brussels Airport was closed to air traffic following reports of unmanned aerial vehicles in the airspace.An alarm was raised after reports of a UAV in the airspace of Brussels Airport.

Belgian Air Traffic Control Services announced that the airport had been closed to air traffic following the UAV report. A Brussels Airport spokesperson confirmed that air traffic at the airport had been completely halted, stating, “We are currently investigating reports of UAV activity around the airport. For security reasons, no aircraft are currently taking off or landing.”

Due to the closure of Brussels Airport, air traffic to the capital is being diverted to Charleroi and Liege airports, as well as nearby destinations such as Ostend-Bruges, Maastricht, and Eindhoven.

Belgian media reports stated that at least three unmanned aerial vehicles were detected in Brussels and that the Belgian civil aviation authority and police had launched an investigation to identify the operators of the unmanned aerial vehicles.UAV flights are not permitted in controlled airspace due to the high risk they pose to aviation safety. Even a collision between a small UAV and an aircraft can cause serious damage, especially during takeoff and landing. It is not known how long Brussels Airport will remain closed.