Netherlands on Alert After Mysterious Drones Spotted; Eindhoven Airport Closed, Military Steps In

Netherlands: All flights were suddenly stopped at Eindhoven Airport in the Netherlands on Saturday evening. Many drones were continuously seen near the airport, after which the security agencies immediately evacuated the airspace without taking any risk. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans wrote on social media that police, army, and defense counter-drone units were deployed to the scene and were ready to take action if needed. Eindhoven Airport is used for civilian flights as well as military activities, so any disturbance cannot be taken lightly.

Was this the first drone incident?

This incident is also a matter of concern because it has happened for the second time in the last 48 hours. On Friday, drones were also seen over the Völkel airbase, about 40 kilometers from Eindhoven. At that time the army had fired on those drones. For security reasons, officials declined to say how many drones there were, how long they were observed for, or what tactics were used to bring them down.

Drone activity has suddenly increased in many countries of Europe in the last few weeks. Airports in Denmark and Norway have also been affected due to this reason. Passengers have also faced a lot of trouble due to flight delays, closure of airspace, and additional security arrangements.

Is this a sign of danger related to Russia?

This increasing drone activity is not only being considered a technological threat but also a sign of larger geopolitical tension. In recent months, several countries have complained that Russian drones and fighter jets have intruded into their airspace. Many such cases were reported in Poland, Romania, and Estonia. After this, NATO countries also held an emergency meeting. Some officials called it a “hybrid war” from Russia, i.e., a strategy to exert pressure without directly attacking. However, the Kremlin has denied these allegations.

What steps is Europe taking now?

In view of the drone threat, 10 countries of the European Union have agreed to build a “Drone Wall.” This will be a joint security framework that will secure the borders and airspace through surveillance and anti-drone technology. Many countries are also strengthening their defense measures at different levels.

The events of Eindhoven have made it clear that Europe will now have to take drone threats seriously, because such risks may increase further in the future.