Danish authorities confirmed that unidentified drones were spotted at several airports across the country overnight, including one with military operations. A government official described these incidents as a deliberate attempt to sow fear within the nation.
Aalborg Airport, a hub for both commercial and military flights, was closed for several hours. Shortly after, Billund Airport, Denmark’s second-largest, also experienced a brief shutdown due to unconfirmed reports of drone activity. Further sightings were reported near two southern airports and an air base housing Denmark’s fighter jets.
The origin of these drones and their operators remains unknown. However, these episodes unfold during a period of heightened alert across Europe, following recent instances where Russian aircraft penetrated the airspace of Poland, Estonia, and Romania.
Just days prior, Copenhagen Airport, the country’s busiest, was also forced to close due to drone sightings. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen labeled it the “most serious attack so far” on Denmark’s critical infrastructure, not ruling out Russian involvement.
In Brussels, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated it was premature to attribute blame for the incursions. The Kremlin, for its part, denied any involvement in the Copenhagen Airport drone incident.
On Thursday, Denmark’s Defense Minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, remarked that while the government could not definitively conclude Russian involvement in the latest events, it could not exclude it either, given the prevailing security climate in Europe. He emphasized that the attacks did not pose an immediate military threat but underscored Denmark’s vulnerability to hybrid warfare and infrastructure sabotage. Poulsen suggested a “professional actor” was behind the synchronized, multi-location operation.
Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard added, “The aim of these is to create fear, division, and make us feel afraid.”
Poulsen also noted that the Danish government was in communication with its NATO allies and was considering invoking Article 4 of the alliance’s treaty, a measure used when a member state perceives a threat to its national security. Poland previously took this step after over 20 Russian drones entered its airspace on September 9 and 10.
Police announced they are working in conjunction with the Danish Security and Intelligence Service and the armed forces to investigate the incidents.
Drones near airports have become a growing concern globally. Notable past events include a December 2018 incident at Gatwick Airport near London, which halted hundreds of flights, and a January 2019 disruption at Newark Liberty International Airport when pilots reported nearby drone activity.