Danish authorities are on edge following a series of unexplained drone sightings overnight across several airports, including a key military facility. Government officials have publicly condemned these incidents as a deliberate attempt to instill fear and create instability within the country.
Aalborg Airport, a crucial hub serving both commercial and military flights, experienced a multi-hour closure. Meanwhile, Billund Airport, Denmark’s second-busiest, was also briefly impacted by unconfirmed reports of drone activity. Further alarming reports indicated drones near two other southern airports and an air base housing Danish fighter jets.
The origin and operators of these mysterious drones remain unknown. However, these events unfold against a backdrop of heightened alert across Europe, marked by recent instances of Russian aircraft reportedly entering Polish, Estonian, and Romanian airspace.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Just days prior, the country’s largest airport in Copenhagen was also forced to close due to drone activity. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen labeled that event the “most serious attack so far” on Denmark’s critical infrastructure, not ruling out Russian involvement.
Speaking in Brussels, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged the incursions but stated it was premature to assign blame. The Kremlin, for its part, swiftly denied any involvement in the Copenhagen airport incident.
On Thursday, Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, alongside the justice minister, addressed the public, openly stating he could not “exclude” Russian involvement in the latest episodes. He emphasized that while there was no immediate military threat, these attacks exposed Denmark’s vulnerability to hybrid warfare and infrastructure sabotage. Poulsen described the recent events as a “systematic operation, with systematic navigation across several locations simultaneously,” suggesting a highly coordinated effort by a “professional actor.”
Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard echoed these sentiments, stating, “The aim of these are to create fear, division and make us feel afraid.”
The Danish government is actively engaging with its NATO allies. Discussions are reportedly underway to consider invoking Article 4 of the NATO treaty, a provision for member states to formally discuss national security threats. This follows Poland’s invocation of Article 4 after over 20 Russian drones reportedly violated its airspace earlier in September.
An extensive investigation is currently underway, with the police collaborating closely with the Danish Security and Intelligence Service and the armed forces.
The increasing frequency of drone sightings near airports has become a growing global concern. Past incidents include the disruption of hundreds of flights at Gatwick Airport in London in December 2018, and a halt to flights at Newark Liberty International Airport the following month due to reported drone activity.
(Image: The entrance to Aalborg Airport in northern Denmark. Drones were observed near the airport overnight, leading to its closure. Credit: Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix Denmark, via Reuters)