The sighting follows airport shutdowns and airspace incursions across Europe.

Belgium has launched an investigation after 15 drones were observed over the Elsenborn military base on Thursday evening before heading towards neighbouring Germany. The base lies close to the German border, and Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken said it remains unclear where the drones originated or who controlled them.

The Belgian incident came just hours after drones were detected near Munich’s Franz-Josef-Strauss Airport in southern Germany, triggering a temporary suspension of flights and 17 cancellations. The disruption added to a growing list of recent aviation alerts linked to drone activity at major European hubs.

Airports in Denmark and Norway have also halted operations in recent days following drone sightings, underscoring the wider challenge of managing low-altitude, unmanned traffic. With the origins of many flights still unknown, European leaders are debating the feasibility of a “drone wall” along the eastern flank to counter potential threats tied to Russian aggression.

Concerns have been heightened by recent breaches of NATO airspace. In Poland, 19 Russian drones crossed into national airspace in a serious incident, while a few days later three Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace for around 12 minutes, prompting a firm response from the North Atlantic alliance. Danish and Polish officials have pointed to Russia in attributing some activity, an allegation Moscow has denied.

Authorities in Belgium and Germany are continuing to examine the latest incursions. Officials have not disclosed technical details about the drones involved, and no responsibility has been claimed. The cluster of incidents is likely to intensify calls for tighter airspace monitoring and closer cross-border coordination across the continent.