Brussels Airport Commits 1,317 Night Flight Violations
Federal airport ombudsman Philippe Touwaide, publishing his annual report, detailed a pattern of systematic non-compliance that included aircraft flying during prohibited night hours, failure to observe quiet night procedures, and the application of daytime takeoff protocols during nighttime operations, a news agency reported.
The findings paint an even starker picture at the regional level — with 4,758 violations of Brussels noise standards recorded in just the first ten months of 2025 alone.
Among the most flagrant infractions cited were 200 nocturnal takeoffs carried out by a Boeing 777 cargo aircraft — operations Touwaide condemned as "completely illegal."
The damning report lands amid escalating friction between federal aviation authorities and elected mayors across the Brussels metropolitan area, who have long protested the routing of flight paths directly over densely populated residential neighborhoods.
The accountability deficit extends beyond regulation into enforcement. Earlier this month, Belgian daily Le Soir revealed that less than 20% of all noise pollution fines issued around Brussels Airport have actually been collected since 2000 — raising serious questions about whether financial penalties carry any meaningful deterrent weight.
Touwaide used the report to issue a direct call to airport operators, urging full compliance with both existing court rulings and applicable regulatory frameworks.
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