Brussels court bans controversial flight paths

A court in Brussels ruled on Thursday that two controversial flight paths over the Belgian capital are to be discontinued, according to the local newspaper La Libre.
The Court of First Instance ruled that the flight paths, introduced as part of the Watherlet plan in February, should now be stopped.
The rule affected some 35,000 planes now fly at low altitudes over highly populated areas of the city, such as Schaerbeek, Etterbeek, Ixelles, Auderghem and others, as well as over the canal region of the city.
The plan created much controversy amongst city residents, and was challenged in the courts.
According to the court ruling, the Belgian government now has three months to redirect flight on these paths, or face penalties of 50,000 euros (66,900 U.S. dollars) per day, for a maximum fine of 36 million euros.