Brussels-Charleroi Airport temporarily halted operations for about 25 minutes on Wednesday afternoon after a private drone entered its airspace without authorization. The drone was detected around 2 p.m. by Skeyes, the Belgian air traffic control system, prompting immediate security actions. An incoming aircraft was put on hold, and passengers on another plane were evacuated as a precaution. Baptiste Cagnina, head of Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA), emphasized that the priority was ensuring passenger safety and maintaining operational integrity. The drone operator, a real estate agent, was detained by police and is expected to face a fine. According to the Charleroi prosecutor's office, the man claimed he had flown the drone to photograph a building as part of a project. He is still under investigation and may be questioned further by authorities. Flying a drone near an airport, even for a short time, is a serious issue. A collision with an aircraft during takeoff or landing could lead to significant damage or loss of life. Air traffic controllers take swift action to ensure the safe distance between aircraft and any unauthorized objects, even if this means briefly halting flights. The airport said the incident did not cause major delays to the flight schedule. However, it happened at a challenging time for the Walloon airport system, as Skeyes air traffic controllers began a series of night strikes on Wednesday evening. These strikes, scheduled from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. until October 10, had already caused Ryanair to cancel several flights at Charleroi. This event echoes a similar incident in November of last year, when Brussels-Zaventem, Charleroi, and Liège airports suspended all operations after multiple drone sightings. These occurrences highlight the growing risk that airports face from drones being used outside of official regulations, whether for leisure or professional purposes.