Photo: SERGEI GAPON / AFP / Getty Images
Copenhagen Airport temporarily shut down on Monday night (September 22) after two to three large unidentified drones were spotted flying over the area. The incident disrupted flights for several hours, impacting around 20,000 passengers. According to Jes Jespersen, senior police inspector of the Copenhagen Police, the drones were operated by a skilled pilot who seemed to be showcasing their capabilities. The drones flew in from different directions, turning their lights on and off, before disappearing after several hours.
Officials decided against shooting down the drones due to the potential risks posed by the airport's proximity to passengers, planes, and fuel depots. While there were no signs of an intent to harm, the possibility of the drones being part of a Russian hybrid attack could not be ruled out, although Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed these allegations as unfounded.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the incident as "the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date." The drones' presence led to flight delays and cancellations, with operations resuming early Tuesday morning. A similar incident occurred at Oslo Airport in Norway, where drone sightings also caused temporary disruptions.
Authorities are investigating the origin of the drones, considering whether they reached the airport by land or sea. Security concerns in northern Europe have heightened due to recent Russian activities, including drone and fighter jet incursions into NATO airspace/ Danish intelligence has assessed a high threat of sabotage, and the incident is under investigation.