European Airports and Military Bases Hit by Coordinated Drone Sightings

A series of drone sightings disrupted aviation operations across Northern Europe on November 6 and 7, 2025. In Sweden, Swedavia and the civil aviation agency LFV closed the airspace at Gothenburg-Landvetter Airport on Thursday evening, forcing the cancellation or redirection of more than a dozen flights. Swedish police launched an investigation into the incident as suspected aviation sabotage, marking the first such disruption at a Swedish airport.

Concurrent disruptions hit Belgium and the Netherlands. Brussels International Airport experienced two brief halts on Thursday, while Liege Airport suspended flights for an hour on Friday morning after a drone was detected near FedEx facilities. Belgian authorities also reported unidentified drones over the Kleine-Brogel air base, which houses U.S. nuclear weapons. In the Netherlands, the Royal Marechaussee investigated a drone sighting over the control tower at the Gilze-Rijen airbase, which controllers classified as potential espionage.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever convened an emergency national security council meeting to address the crisis. Defense Minister Theo Francken described the incidents as a coordinated attack by professionals intended to destabilize the country and spy on ammunition depots and fighter jets. While Belgian intelligence suspects the Federal Government of Russia is employing hybrid warfare to spread fear, the Russian government has denied any involvement. The Dutch Ministry of Defence stated it has found no current indications of Russian activity in Dutch airspace.