Drone Sightings in Denmark Prompt Security Alerts and Flight Disruptions

The Copenhagen Airport was temporarily shut down for several hours on Monday evening due to reports of drone sightings, leading to the cancellation of 100 flights, including several to and from Germany. Approximately 20,000 passengers were impacted by the disruptions. Reports indicated that two to three large drones were spotted in the vicinity of the airport. A similar incident occurred at Oslo Gardermoen Airport, another major Scandinavian hub. Airport authorities later lifted the restrictions in both cases.

As of now, the identity of those operating the drones remains unknown, with the Copenhagen police stating that no suspects have been identified. The lead investigator, Jens Jespersen, mentioned that the size and number of the drones, along with the timing of these incidents, suggest the involvement of a "capable actor." He emphasized that this could simply be an exercise or demonstration of capability.

In light of the recent events, Copenhagen's police chief Anne Tønnes described the situation as a "drone attack," aligning with the view of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who referred to it as an "attack." Tønnes highlighted the critical nature of the infrastructure at stake, suggesting that the circumstances call for serious consideration.

Prime Minister Frederiksen remarked on the implications of the incident, stating, "This reflects the times we live in and what we must be prepared for as a society." She indicated that all possibilities regarding the perpetrators remain under consideration, situating this incident within a broader context of recent aerial threats in Europe. She listed other occurrences, including unauthorized drone activity over Poland, violations of Estonian airspace, and a recent cyberattack on European airports over the weekend.

In a related context, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hinted at a potential connection with Russia, although he did not provide specific evidence. The Kremlin has categorically denied any involvement, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissing the accusations as unfounded and asserting that such claims diminish the credibility of serious discourse.

Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport is one of the largest in Scandinavia, alongside Stockholm-Arlanda and Oslo Gardermoen, facilitating numerous flights to and from German cities daily. Just a weekend prior, a cyberattack on an IT service provider caused significant disruptions at several European airports, including those in Berlin, Brussels, London Heathrow, and Dublin, with issues extending into Monday.