Danish officials reported that unidentified drones were spotted at multiple airports overnight, with one incident occurring at a military installation. A government spokesperson suggested these sightings were part of an attempt to spread fear across the nation.
Aalborg Airport, a facility shared by commercial and military operations, experienced several hours of closure. Regional police confirmed this, adding that Billund Airport, Denmark’s second busiest, was also temporarily shut down following unconfirmed reports of drone activity in its vicinity.
Further reports from police indicated drone presence near two additional airports in southern Denmark, as well as an air base housing some of the nation’s fighter jets.
The origin and operators of these drones remain a mystery. However, these incidents occurred during a period of heightened vigilance in Europe, prompted by recent instances of Russian aircraft encroaching on Polish, Estonian, and Romanian airspace.
Just days prior, drone sightings had already led to the closure of Copenhagen Airport, Denmark’s primary air travel hub. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen labeled that event the “most serious attack so far” on the country’s vital infrastructure, declining to rule out Russian involvement.
During a Tuesday news conference in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that it was premature to identify the culprits behind these incursions. Meanwhile, the Kremlin rejected any implication of Russian involvement in the Copenhagen Airport drone incident.
On Thursday, Denmark’s Defense Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, acknowledged that while the government couldn’t definitively confirm Russia’s involvement in the latest episodes, they also couldn’t rule it out, citing the prevailing security climate in Europe.
Poulsen clarified that these attacks didn’t pose an immediate military threat. However, he emphasized that they highlight Denmark’s susceptibility to hybrid warfare and potential infrastructure sabotage. He noted that a “professional actor” appeared to be behind the latest incident, describing it as “a systematic operation, with systematic navigation across several locations simultaneously.”
Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard further commented that “the aim of these incidents is to create fear, division, and to make us feel afraid.”
Poulsen also revealed that the Danish government is communicating with its NATO allies and contemplating invoking Article 4 of the alliance’s treaty. This article allows a member state to initiate formal discussions about threats to national security, a step Poland took after over 20 Russian drones entered its airspace on September 9 and 10.
Police confirmed that they are collaborating with the Danish Security and Intelligence Service and the armed forces in their investigation of the incident.
The increasing presence of drones near airports has emerged as a significant threat in recent years. Notably, in December 2018, drones over a runway at Gatwick Airport near London caused widespread disruptions to hundreds of flights. The following month, all flights destined for Newark Liberty International Airport were halted after pilots reported a drone nearby.