Travelers on flights at Eindhoven Airport who could not depart on Saturday evening because drones were spotted, had to spend the night outside the terminal. The airport doors closed at 1 a.m., an hour later than usual. As a result, dozens of passengers had to wait outside or in the parking garage. Other travelers looked for a hotel or went home.
Sandra is in the departure hall for the third time on Sunday morning to leave for Alicante. “Last night we were told several times that the flight had been delayed. We saw a lot of police at the airport, pointing upwards. We immediately joked that they were drones, and later it turned out that this was indeed the case. We even spoke to someone from Defense later who said: We have taken a number of them out of the air,” says Sandra.
Distressing
“At twelve o’clock last night we all had to leave the terminal. There were also people who had had to wait in front of the door on a plane for two hours. Some didn’t know where to go. I saw people with babies, with only one milk bottle and five pampers. They are still here now. That is simply distressing. There was no information at all from the airport,” says Sandra. “I think some just slept in their cars or on the street.”
‘Not an emergency’
In a response, Eindhoven Airport said that they had assessed that the flights canceled by the drones did not constitute an emergency. “The passengers who were still in the terminal could find a place elsewhere by bus, taxi or private transport. The reception of passengers is the responsibility of the airline. They must arrange transport and accommodation if flights are canceled. We have decided to close the terminal an hour later than usual, at 1:00 am,” says spokesperson Judith de Roy of Eindhoven Airport.
“Well, that was also because we didn’t have our suitcases yet,” Saskia says. She came from Malaga, her plane diverted to Schiphol and landed in Eindhoven at 11:59 PM. “They had to stay open for our luggage. It’s a shame that they unceremoniously sent people into the freezing cold.”
Drones above Brabant
Drones were seen three times in Brabant in recent days: Saturday evening at Eindhoven airport and on Friday and Saturday evenings also at Volkel air base.
According to Minister Brekelmans, these are unarmed drones. According to State Secretary Gijs Tuinman, they are “for sale in the Media Markt.”
At the beginning of November, a drone was seen above the control tower of Gilze-Rijen air base. An investigation by the military police then turned up nothing.