Chaos erupted at Copenhagen and Oslo airports when drone sightings led to temporary closures, throwing a wrench into countless travel plans and causing delays expected to ripple through Tuesday.
The origin of the mysterious drones, their operators, and any potential connection between the two incidents remain unknown. However, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen swiftly condemned the event as ‘the most serious attack so far’ on Denmark’s vital infrastructure, leaving all possibilities open regarding who might be behind it.
This incident comes amid heightened tensions across Europe, particularly in countries bordering Ukraine, following recent reports of Russian aircraft violating the airspace of Poland, Estonia, and Romania.
According to Ms. Frederiksen, Copenhagen police noted the involvement of a ‘capable actor,’ and she emphasized that this event aligns with a recent pattern of drone incursions, airspace violations, and cyberattacks targeting European airports.
Copenhagen Airport was the first to report drone activity on Monday night. Danish police chief superintendent Jens Jespersen confirmed that multiple large drones hovered over the airports for four hours, leading authorities to halt all takeoffs and landings due to their presence.
As police launched an investigation, incoming flights were rerouted to alternative airports, an airport spokeswoman confirmed.
Just hours later, Oslo Airport faced a similar fate, closing down after its staff twice reported lights resembling drones in the sky. Gisle Sveen, operations manager for the Norwegian East Police District, stated that flights were consequently diverted.
While both airports resumed operations in the early hours of Tuesday, Copenhagen Airport cautioned via social media that travelers should brace for continued delays and cancellations throughout the day.
The incidents underscore the elevated state of alert across Eastern and Northern Europe, especially as Russia intensifies its use of drones in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Earlier this month, NATO forces were dispatched to intercept Russian drones that had encroached on Polish airspace. This was followed by a Russian drone entering Romanian airspace, and last week, three Russian fighter jets violated Estonian airspace, leading to NATO scrambling warplanes for interception.
Polish officials have characterized these airspace violations as a deliberate attempt by Russia to gauge NATO’s preparedness. Russia, however, maintains that its jets did not infringe upon Estonian airspace and that the drones detected over Poland were en route to Ukraine.
Just last week, Denmark committed to strengthening its military capabilities in direct response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Prime Minister stated then, ‘There is no doubt that Russia will be a threat to Denmark and Europe for many years to come.’
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri S. Peskov, on Tuesday, refuted any Russian involvement in the Copenhagen airport drone incident, stating, ‘Presenting baseless accusations every time, frankly, leads to a point where such statements are no longer taken seriously.’
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a social media update on Tuesday, mentioned discussing Russian airspace violations with the head of the International Monetary Fund, specifically citing the September 22nd incident in Copenhagen. He offered no further details or proof of Russian involvement.
These drone incidents compounded an already challenging week for European air travel, as major hubs like Berlin, Dublin, Brussels, and London’s Heathrow had already experienced significant operational disruptions due to a prior cyberattack.
The increasing frequency of drone activity near airports has solidified their status as a growing and serious threat to aviation security in recent years.
This isn’t the first time drone activity has paralyzed airports. In December 2018, hundreds of flights at London’s Gatwick Airport were grounded due to drones over a runway. Just a month later, flights to Newark Liberty International Airport were halted after pilots reported a drone in the vicinity.
Additional reporting was provided by Ivan Nechepurenko.