Families Sue Belgian State Over Brussels Airport Flight Path Noise

Forty-two families from the Brussels west periphery are taking the Belgian state to court over escalating noise pollution caused by low-flying aircraft. The residents of Dilbeek, Lennik, and Roosdaal are protesting the increased use of a specific flight path from Brussels Airport, which they say now flies over their homes far more frequently than before.

Eddy Cousin, a resident of Dilbeek, testified in May that the noise disturbance has shifted from about four to five days a year to several consecutive days, affecting both daytime and nighttime. He is now among the 41 other families forming the citizen collective Bruegelvogelvrij, which argues that the frequent passage of planes overhead, sometimes every two to three minutes on busy days, severely disrupts their quality of life and sleep. This is a stark contrast to the situation when they purchased their homes.

The increased disturbance stems from a more frequent use of one of Zaventem Airport's approach routes, specifically runway 07L, which is utilized during easterly winds. A new satellite-guided landing system means aircraft now follow an identical path, concentrating the noise over specific neighborhoods. Previously, there was more deviation in the landing path, leading to a wider distribution of the noise impact. The collective claims that nearly all flights exceed Brussels' noise limits, affecting over 270,000 people.

Residents argue that this change is not merely a matter of wind direction but a political decision aimed at increasing the airport's capacity. They cite Minister of Mobility Jean-Luc Crucke's previous comments about a "test phase" that has been extended until October, fueling fears that a temporary measure will become permanent. The collective asserts that such route modifications require proper studies and public consultation, which they claim have been bypassed, rendering the decision unlawful.