On Monday night, Denmark authorities reported spotting two to three large drones over its airspace, prompting the immediate closure of Copenhagen airport. According to Denmark police, all take-offs have been cancelled until further notice.
Flight Disruptions Across Denmark and Sweden
The drone sightings caused major disruptions:
- Over 50 flights headed for Copenhagen airport were diverted to other airports.
- At least 50 flights were cancelled, according to Eurocontrol.
- Flights were redirected to Danish airports including Billund and Aarhus, as well as Malmö and Gothenburg in Sweden.
The airport is expected to remain closed until 9 AM local time on Tuesday.
Drones Spotted Over Sweden and Norway
Shortly after the Denmark sightings, drones were also reported over Sweden and Norway.
- Sweden’s SVT reported a drone over the sea between Denmark and Sweden.
- In Norway, two drones were sighted near Oslo. Authorities arrested two foreign nationals for flying drones within a prohibited zone, according to Dagbladet.
Rising Drone Activity Amid European Tensions
Experts suggest the recent drone sightings may be linked to escalating tensions involving Russia and the Ukraine conflict. Earlier this month, NATO countries including Poland, Romania, and Estonia reported Russian drones and jets in their airspace.
In response to these incursions, NATO jets were scrambled to assess potential threats. Russia has denied responsibility, calling the claims “baseless provocations.”
