Liege, Belgium – Operations at Belgium’s Liege Airport have been restored following a temporary halt due to a drone sighting, as confirmed by the nation’s air traffic control on Friday. This incident is the second such interruption involving drones at Belgian airports in just one week.

The Skeyes air traffic control services reported the sighting of a drone over Liege Airport at approximately 06:30 GMT, which led authorities to shut down the airport for about 30 minutes. “Every report must be treated with utmost seriousness,” stated Kurt Verwilligen, spokesperson for Skeyes, asserting that flights have now resumed safely.

Earlier this week, similar drone sightings at both Brussels and Liege airports forced several incoming flights to be redirected, while some departures were grounded. Authorities have increasingly voiced their alarm over the rising frequency of drones near airports and strategic military sites, indicating that these incidents have caused significant disruptions in air travel across Europe recently.

Belgium is not the only country grappling with this issue. Temporary closures due to drone activities have also been reported in nations like Sweden, where flights were suspended on Thursday. Security analysts have raised alarms about potential “hybrid warfare” strategies, despite Moscow denying any connections to these occurrences.

In light of the worsening situation, the Belgian government convened an emergency session with top ministers and security advisors on Thursday. Defence officials suggested that the wave of drone sightings might signify a coordinated strike, emphasizing the need for reinforced security around vital infrastructures.

As Belgium seeks to manage the escalating risks of drone-related disruptions, travelers are encouraged to keep abreast of updates from airport authorities. These recent events underscore the difficulties posed by unmanned aerial vehicles near busy airports, necessitating increased vigilance and tighter safety protocols across Europe.