Dozens of evening flights arriving at Copenhagen Airport on Monday were forced to divert as authorities abruptly closed the facility following reports of drone sightings. The unexpected shutdown created immediate chaos for travelers.
Copenhagen police confirmed on social media that “two or three large drones” were observed flying within the airport’s operational area. While no further details were immediately available, a spokesperson for Copenhagen Airport stated that these sightings led to the airport’s closure around 8:30 p.m. local time.
Officials, unable to provide an estimate for the reopening, emphasized the uncertainty surrounding the duration of the closure.
Lise Agerley Kurstein, the airport’s spokeswoman, released an emailed statement confirming, “No aircraft can take off or land at the airport,” and explained that “as a result, several flights are being diverted to other airports. The police are investigating the matter, and we currently have no timeline for reopening.”
Requests for additional information directed to the police on Monday evening went unanswered.
By 10:05 p.m. local time, over 35 flights originally headed for Copenhagen Airport had been rerouted to alternative destinations, as reported by a prominent aviation tracking website.
This incident at Copenhagen is not isolated; major European airports have recently faced disruptions, including a cyberattack over the weekend and on Monday. Earlier this year, British airports experienced closures due to a technical glitch in their flight control systems and, separately, a power substation fire.
Such drone-related airport closures have precedent; in December 2018, Gatwick Airport near London faced similar issues when drone sightings near its runway caused hundreds of flights to be canceled or delayed, affecting tens of thousands of holiday travelers.
This situation remains fluid as developments unfold.