Signage of the Volkel Air Base tweeted by Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans on Saturday | Photo: Twitter account of Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans
Amsterdam: Dutch troops at Volkel Air Base near Nijmegen fired at several drones flying over the facility on Friday evening, according to the Defence Ministry.
The drones were fired at using ground weapons, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday, without specifying what weapons were used.
The drones departed the area and were never recovered, it said. F-35 stealth fighters of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force are stationed at Volkel Air Base.
Drones have repeatedly caused disruptions to European airspace in recent months, including in Belgium, Germany and Denmark.
Several drones were also spotted near the Dutch airport of Eindhoven, leading to a suspension of military and civilian flights, Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans said on X on Saturday evening.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, he said, adding that “we will take action if necessary.”
A spokeswoman for Eindhoven Airport confirmed the sightings to dpa, saying that take-offs and landings has been suspended. The Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force tweeted on Sunday, “Following the measures taken by @defensie (defence ministry), flight operations at Eindhoven Airport have just resumed.”
Later, the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force tweeted, “@Defensie (defence ministry) took action this weekend after drones were spotted at multiple (military) airfields. On Friday and Saturday evenings, drones flew over @VlbVolkel. Air Force personnel deployed weapons from the ground, after which the drones departed again. Disruption of air traffic with drones leads to unsafe situations. We therefore act accordingly.”
Flights en route to Eindhoven, located in the southern Netherlands, had been rerouted, according to the airport’s website.
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