The Defense Ministry of the Netherlands has accumulated claims amounting to 350,000 euros due to damage caused by low-level flights (up to a maximum of 45 meters above the ground) by the fleet of military helicopters. These are training operations that simulate camouflage between buildings and trees in war zones. The amount of this figure concerns incidents that have been reported in the last five years.

Most of the requests come from the agricultural sector. In particular, there are really numerous complaints filed in the regions of Land van Maas en Waal and Gelderland (territories of pastures, farms and chicken farms), where low-level flights have led to the death of hundreds of animals. The ministry had to compensate farmers and breeders with an amount of 300,000 euros for damages caused between 2020 and 2022.

In recent years, the number of reports dropped from 429 in 2021 to 130 in 2022, although the number of training flights increased in the Maas and Waal region. But not everyone was understanding. After complaining in vain for years, Mr Uddel was charged in March after shooting at one of the helicopters that was flying low over his land.