Brussels households join legal action over flight noise

A total of 370 Brussels households comprising 850 residents have joined a legal action in Flemish Brabant against the new RNP 07L flight path to Brussels Airport.

The controversial flight path has been causing noise pollution in certain areas in and around the capital, mainly in the north and west of Brussels. 

“Anyone who hasn’t experienced this firsthand cannot know what it’s like to live beneath an airway,” said a statement from the non-profit organisation Free Air 4 Brussels. 

“With a low-flying aeroplane passing over your roof every two to three minutes, you no longer have any quality of life during the day and you sleep poorly at night. That incessant noise causes stress and undeniably has an impact on our physical and mental health.”

The 370 families who have joined the legal action live in Anderlecht, Molenbeek, Berchem-Sainte-Agathe, Jette, Koekelberg, Ganshoren, Brussels City, Schaerbeek, Evere and Haren. 

The Brussels residents are joining legal proceedings initiated in July by 42 families from Dilbeek, Lennik and Roosdaal. Together, they are asking the court to suspend the flight path and are also claiming compensation.

The flight path was nicknamed the "Crucke route" in an effort to put pressure on federal mobility minister Jean-Luc Crucke (Les Engagés), whose recently proposed plan to reduce the nuisance was met with scepticism. 

Free Air 4 Brussels supports the action but is not itself intervening as a party in the proceedings. 

“Never before have so many residents of the Brussels region joined forces to bring a legal action against aircraft noise,” the non-profit organisation said.

The proceedings will take place before the Court of First Instance in Brussels and an initial ruling is expected in early 2027.