The Guardian
Dan Sabbagh
09 November 2025
Incursions halted flights at Brussels and Liège airports last week with Russia said to be the most likely culprit
Britain is deploying Royal Air Force specialists to help Belgium counter drone threats to the country’s airports after disruptive sightings last week that some politicians blamed on Russia.
Sir Richard Knighton, the head of the UK’s armed forces, said the British military would provide “our people, our equipment” to help Belgium, though he was careful to say “we don’t yet know” the origin of the drones seen last week.
The decision was made after a request for help from Belgium. Flights were disrupted at Brussels and Liège airports last Thursday after unidentified drone sightings, which were also reported at military bases and nuclear facilities in the country.
Russia has been identified as the most likely culprit, the latest in a string of incidents across northern Europe this autumn. However, Knighton said even without knowing definitively who was behind the drone flights, he was “very happy” to act in support of a Nato ally.
