Overnight, the primary airports in Copenhagen, Denmark, and Oslo, Norway, were forced to shut down for several hours due to unexplained drone sightings. This drastic measure led to significant flight cancellations and widespread delays, with disruptions anticipated to continue well into Tuesday.
The exact origin and operators of these mysterious drones remain unknown, as does any potential connection between the incidents in Oslo and Copenhagen. However, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen issued a statement describing the event as the “most serious attack so far” on the country’s vital infrastructure. She emphasized that her government is not ruling out any possibilities regarding who might be responsible.
This incident unfolds amidst heightened alert levels across several European nations, particularly those bordering Ukraine. Recent weeks have seen Russian aircraft reportedly encroaching upon the airspace of Poland, Estonia, and Romania, further escalating regional tensions.
Copenhagen police described the drone operation as the work of a “capable actor,” according to Prime Minister Frederiksen. She further noted that this incident clearly “ties into the developments we have observed recently with other drone attacks, violations of airspace, and cyberattacks on European airports.”
The initial drone sightings were reported late Monday at Copenhagen Airport. According to Jens Jespersen, chief superintendent of the Danish police, multiple large drones hovered over the airport for a remarkable four hours. Authorities promptly suspended all takeoffs and landings to ensure safety amid the drone presence. An image from the Copenhagen Airport on Tuesday shows passengers lining up to get new tickets, illustrating the widespread disruption.
An airport spokeswoman confirmed that incoming flights were rerouted to alternative airports while police conducted their investigation.
Just a few hours later, Oslo Airport also experienced a shutdown due to comparable sightings. Flights bound for Oslo were diverted to other Norwegian airports. Gisle Sveen, operations manager for the Norwegian East Police District, stated that airport staff had reported seeing what appeared to be drone lights in the sky on two separate occasions.
Both affected airports resumed operations in the early hours of Tuesday morning. However, Copenhagen Airport advised travelers via social media to anticipate further delays and cancellations throughout the day.
With Russia intensifying its drone warfare in Ukraine, nations across Eastern and Northern Europe remain on heightened alert for potential security threats.
Officials confirmed that Copenhagen’s airport was closed for several hours following the drone sightings. A related image shows police officers standing near a metal fence topped with sharp wire, with a police car nearby, highlighting the security response at Copenhagen’s airport.
Earlier this month, NATO revealed it had dispatched fighter jets to intercept and neutralize Russian drones breaching Polish airspace. Shortly after, Romania reported a similar incursion by a Russian drone, and last week, three Russian fighter jets prompted NATO warplanes to scramble after violating Estonian airspace.
Polish authorities characterized these airspace violations as deliberate attempts by Russia to assess NATO’s response capabilities. Moscow, however, denied violating Estonian airspace and claimed the drones over Poland were en route to Ukraine.
Just last week, Denmark committed to strengthening its military, citing Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine as the reason. Prime Minister Frederiksen stated unequivocally that “Russia will be a threat to Denmark and Europe for many years to come.”
The Kremlin’s spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, swiftly rejected any suggestions of Russian involvement in the Copenhagen airport drone incident on Tuesday. He criticized what he called “baseless accusations,” arguing that such statements eventually lose credibility.
These drone-related disruptions compounded an already turbulent week for European air travel. Several other major airports, including Berlin, Dublin, Brussels, and London’s Heathrow, had already faced severe operational challenges due to a recent cyberattack.
The growing menace of drones operating near or within airport perimeters has emerged as a significant security concern in recent years.
Past incidents underscore this threat: in December 2018, drones over a runway at London’s Gatwick Airport caused hundreds of flights to be cancelled or delayed. The following month, all incoming flights to Newark Liberty International Airport were halted when pilots sighted a nearby drone.
Ivan Nechepurenko contributed reporting.