Table of Contents
Belgian Airspace Reopens After Temporary Closure
Airspace Shutdown Due to Technical Issue
Belgian airspace was closed for a little over an hour on Thursday due to a technical malfunction in the air traffic control system. The issue originated from Skeyes, the organization responsible for managing Belgian airspace.
System Reboot Resolves Disruption
The disruption was resolved after Skeyes rebooted its system. Flights that were operating within Belgian airspace at the time were rerouted to neighboring countries using a backup system.
Impact on Flights, Including Slovak PM’s Aircraft
The closure forced a flight carrying Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to return to Slovakia instead of proceeding to a meeting with European Commission officials in Brussels.
Malfunction Detected in the Afternoon
The issue became apparent around 3 p.m. (1400 GMT) when the system managing Belgian airspace stopped functioning properly. This affected air traffic up to an altitude of approximately 7,500 meters (24,600 feet).
Major Airports Affected
Belgium’s primary airports include Brussels (Zaventem) and Charleroi, with additional airports in Antwerp, Liege, and Ostend.