Mystery Surrounds American CASA 235 at Antwerp Airport: Former Aircraft used by CIA now Active Over Belgium and the Netherlands
This story was updated May 19 as new information about this aircraft was found.
A remarkable American-registered aircraft has been attracting the attention of aviation watchers for more than two months at Antwerp International Airport. The aircraft is a CASA 235 with registration N10180, a plane that has been linked to special operations for the CIA and the U.S. military.
N10180 arrived in Antwerp on March 3. The journey to Belgium began on March 1 from Georgetown County Airport in the United States. After a short stop at Myrtle Beach International Airport, the aircraft flew to Bangor International Airport before crossing the Atlantic via stops in Iceland and Scotland to reach Antwerp.
Shortly after arrival, on March 4, the aircraft made a brief flight during which it flew over the small airfield of Schaffen-Diest Airfield. After that, activity remained quiet for quite some time.
It was not until May 2 that the next flight took place. The CASA then flew toward Ostend-Bruges International Airport, where multiple approaches and training circuits were carried out.
Two days later, on May 4, the aircraft departed for Panevėžys Airfield in Lithuania. The plane remained on the ground there for only about twenty minutes before immediately returning to Antwerp.
On May 15, it once again headed to Ostend for additional training flights.
The most striking mission took place on May 18. On that day, N10180 flew to the former Twente Air Base near Enschede. Several approaches were carried out there, including touch-and-go landings. The aircraft also flew multiple low-altitude circles in the area surrounding the airport.
It then landed at Eindhoven Air Base and was parked at the military apron. Later, the aircraft flew to the northern part of the Netherlands, where it made two circles above the military training area of Marnewaard. It then returned to Eindhoven. According to a source, the aircraft was being used for parachutist operations.
After a stop of approximately four hours, the CASA departed once again for Antwerp, where it has now been stationed for at least eleven weeks.
This video shows N10180 at Antwerp airport.
A new role for this aircraft
After further investigation, the aircraft appears to be operated by a Belgium company called Reni Aviation. The company previously operated a CASA 212 registered as N620AR, an aircraft that for years was used for missions including parachute drops on behalf of the Belgian military. An earlier report on the aircraft’s activities was published by AirOnline.nl.
The last recorded flight of N620AR took place on October 17, 2025. On that day, the aircraft departed from Schaffen-Diest airfield, where it carried out numerous turns and manoeuvres in the surrounding area before later landing at Antwerp Airport. Similar flight patterns had been observed there on previous occasions. The area is believed to host a military training site used for parachute instruction.
The CASA CN-235 registered as N10180 had previously been offered for sale through Aircraft.com. During that period, several external antennas appear to have been removed from the aircraft. Reni Aviation purchased the CASA CN-235 at February 23, 2026
N10180 is now believed to be replacing the CASA 212 N620AR and is expected to be used for military-related missions. Photographs of the aircraft show that it has been fitted with troop transport seating, further indicating a role in military transport and airborne operations.
