Eindhoven airport closed after drone sightings, Netherlands defence minister says
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- Eindhoven Airport suspended air traffic due to multiple drone sightings on the evening of Nov 22, according to Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans.
- The Dutch military had used weapons against drones near Volkel air force base the previous evening; origins of the drones are unknown.
- Drone incursions are causing disruption across Europe; Ursula von der Leyen called them "hybrid warfare"; "an investigation is ongoing."
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AMSTERDAM - Air traffic at Eindhoven airport in the south of the Netherlands was suspended on the evening of Nov 22 due to multiple drone sightings, Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans said in a post on X.
“Counter-drone equipment is ready to act”, Mr Brekelmans said.
“An investigation is ongoing.”
The Dutch military on the evening of Nov 21 had used weapons against drones sighted above the air force base in Volkel, some 40km north-east of Eindhoven, the defence ministry had said earlier on Nov 22.
Eindhoven serves both as a civilian and as a military airport. All types of air traffic were suspended, Mr Brekelmans said.
Asked if it was clear where the drones had come from, the defence ministry had no additional comment.
Drones and other airspace incursions have caused considerable disruption across Europe in recent months.
In September, more than 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace violated Estonia’s airspace
Since then, many drone flights, the origins of which are mostly unknown, have disrupted airspace operations in Europe.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called the incursions “hybrid warfare”. REUTERS
