In a series of alarming events, drone sightings prompted the complete shutdown of major airports in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Oslo, Norway, for several hours overnight. This forced widespread flight diversions and caused significant delays that were anticipated to extend throughout Tuesday.
The origins and operators of these drones remain a mystery, and it’s unclear whether the incidents in Copenhagen and Oslo are connected. However, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen swiftly issued a statement describing the episode as the ‘most serious attack so far’ on Denmark’s vital infrastructure, indicating that her government is considering all potential culprits.
These incidents occur at a time of heightened vigilance across several European nations, particularly those bordering Ukraine. Recent weeks have seen Russian aircraft encroach upon the airspace of Poland, Estonia, and Romania, putting these countries on high alert.
Prime Minister Frederiksen noted that Copenhagen police characterized the drone activity as originating from a ‘capable actor.’ She explicitly linked it to a broader trend of drone attacks, airspace violations, and cyberattacks targeting European airports that have been observed recently.
The initial reports surfaced Monday night at Copenhagen Airport. Danish police chief superintendent Jens Jespersen confirmed that multiple large drones hovered over the airport for four hours. This presence led authorities to halt all takeoffs and landings, with inbound flights redirected to alternative locations while investigations commenced.
Hours later, Oslo Airport experienced similar disruptions, necessitating its closure and the diversion of flights. Gisle Sveen, operations manager for the Norwegian East Police District, stated that airport staff had twice reported seeing lights in the sky consistent with drone activity.
Both airports eventually resumed operations in the early hours of Tuesday. However, Copenhagen Airport advised travelers to expect ongoing delays and cancellations throughout the day.
This escalation comes amid heightened tensions in Eastern and Northern Europe, with Russia increasing its reliance on drones in the conflict with Ukraine.
Earlier this month, NATO scrambled fighter jets to intercept Russian drones violating Polish airspace. Days later, Romania reported a Russian drone entering its territory, and last week, three Russian fighter jets breached Estonian airspace, leading to NATO’s intervention with warplanes.
Polish authorities interpreted these airspace intrusions as a deliberate attempt by Russia to test NATO’s preparedness. Russia, however, denied violating Estonian airspace and claimed its drones over Poland were targeting Ukraine.
Last week, Denmark revealed plans to significantly enhance its military capabilities in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. Frederiksen emphasized, ‘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, dismissed any Russian involvement in the Copenhagen Airport drone incident, stating that ‘presenting baseless accusations every time, frankly, leads to a point where such statements are no longer taken seriously.’
These drone sightings compound recent air travel challenges in Europe. Earlier in the week, several major airports, including Berlin, Dublin, Brussels, and London’s Heathrow, experienced severe operational disruptions caused by a cyberattack.
The threat posed by drones operating in proximity to airports has grown significantly in recent years. Notable past incidents include hundreds of flights being disrupted at London’s Gatwick Airport in December 2018 due to drone activity. The following month, all flights destined for Newark Liberty International Airport were halted after pilots reported a nearby drone sighting.