Luxembourg authorities are investigating drone sightings that forced the country’s main airport to temporarily suspend flights overnight, Prime Minister Luc Frieden said on Saturday.
Frieden said Luxembourg was working with its NATO allies following the incident, which comes amid heightened European concern over suspected hybrid attacks linked to Russia.
What happened at Luxembourg airport?
National carrier Luxair said more than 1,800 passengers were affected, with 17 incoming flights diverted to airports including Brussels, Paris and Frankfurt.
Flights resumed on Saturday, although Luxair warned that delays and knock-on disruption could continue.
The airport said the closure was a precautionary measure to protect passengers, airline crews, airport employees and aircraft.
Frieden stressed that it was too early to determine who was responsible.
“We are analyzing the situation,” Frieden told a televised press conference after an emergency meeting with the country’s defense and interior ministers.
Have other drones been spotted?
Frieden said “potentially larger drones” had also been observed in Luxembourg’s airspace in recent days.
“This is new for Luxembourg, but it is not completely new for our neighboring countries,” he said.
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Unauthorized drones have previously been detected near sensitive sites elsewhere in Europe, including Belgium, Germany and Denmark.
“We will ensure, together with our partners, that we can guarantee the security of our populations,” Frieden said.
European governments have repeatedly warned of Russian-linked hybrid activities since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Such incidents have included suspected sabotage, cyberattacks and unauthorized drone flights.
There is currently no evidence establishing who was responsible for the Luxembourg sightings.
Edited by: Zac Crellin
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