Danish authorities are investigating after two to three large unidentified drones flew over Copenhagen Airport on Monday night, shutting down airspace for several hours, officials said Tuesday. The airport, Scandinavia's largest, was closed to flights while the drones were in the air, causing delays and cancellations that continued into Tuesday morning.
Officials chose not to shoot down the drones due to safety risks posed by passengers, planes on runways, and nearby fuel depots, Jes Jespersen, senior police inspector with Copenhagen Police, said during a news conference.
Jespersen described the pilot as “a capable actor” and said the drones appeared intended to display skills rather than cause harm. “It all indicates that you are not out to attack anyone, but you are out to show off and maybe to practice,” he said. The lights on the drones turned on and off and they flew in varied patterns before disappearing after several hours.
Authorities have not ruled out a possible connection to a Russian hybrid attack. The drones traveled several kilometers to reach the airport, and investigators are examining whether they arrived by land or boat.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the incident “the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date.”
Flights resumed early Tuesday, though Copenhagen Airport advised passengers to check with airlines for delays and canceled departures. A similar drone incident occurred Monday night at Oslo Airport in Norway, forcing traffic to a single runway, though officials have not confirmed any link between the two events.
Security concerns in northern Europe have risen following recent Russian sabotage activities, along with multiple incursions into NATO airspace by drones and fighter jets. Past incidents in Europe, such as drone closures at London’s Gatwick Airport in 2018 and 2023, caused significant travel disruptions, highlighting the ongoing risk posed by unmanned aerial vehicles near major airports.
(With inputs from news agency AP)
Officials chose not to shoot down the drones due to safety risks posed by passengers, planes on runways, and nearby fuel depots, Jes Jespersen, senior police inspector with Copenhagen Police, said during a news conference.
Jespersen described the pilot as “a capable actor” and said the drones appeared intended to display skills rather than cause harm. “It all indicates that you are not out to attack anyone, but you are out to show off and maybe to practice,” he said. The lights on the drones turned on and off and they flew in varied patterns before disappearing after several hours.
Authorities have not ruled out a possible connection to a Russian hybrid attack. The drones traveled several kilometers to reach the airport, and investigators are examining whether they arrived by land or boat.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the incident “the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date.”
Flights resumed early Tuesday, though Copenhagen Airport advised passengers to check with airlines for delays and canceled departures. A similar drone incident occurred Monday night at Oslo Airport in Norway, forcing traffic to a single runway, though officials have not confirmed any link between the two events.
Security concerns in northern Europe have risen following recent Russian sabotage activities, along with multiple incursions into NATO airspace by drones and fighter jets. Past incidents in Europe, such as drone closures at London’s Gatwick Airport in 2018 and 2023, caused significant travel disruptions, highlighting the ongoing risk posed by unmanned aerial vehicles near major airports.
(With inputs from news agency AP)
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