By Aaron Miller-
Flights resumed on Tuesday at Copenhagen Airport, Denmark’s busiest, following a temporary shutdown caused by the presence of large, unidentified drones. The airport was forced to close on Monday evening, grounding outgoing flights and diverting incoming planes to other airports in Denmark and Sweden. This incident highlights ongoing security challenges posed by unauthorised drone activity.
Flights were halted at Copenhagen Airport due to drone reports. Pic: Reuters
Danish police confirmed that two or three “large drones” were seen flying in the area, leading to the airspace closure. They stated that the drones were much bigger than typical consumer models, leading them to believe the operator was “a capable actor.” Authorities chose not to shoot down the drones due to the risk of collateral damage, given the high number of passengers, aircraft, and nearby fuel depots.
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The disruption caused significant chaos for travellers, with dozens of flights cancelled or diverted. An airport spokesperson warned of continued delays as the system works to recover from the disruption. Police are now working with the military and intelligence services to determine the origin of the drones, which disappeared after several hours. The incident in Denmark occurred on the same evening that a similar drone sighting forced a temporary closure at Oslo Airport in Norway, though authorities have not yet confirmed a connection between the two events.
Pic: Reuters
The recent event at Copenhagen Airport follows a string of similar disruptions across Europe. Just last week, a cyber-attack targeting a check-in system affected operations at major hubs like London’s Heathrow and Brussels airports. For more context on previous drone-related travel chaos, you can read about the 2018 Gatwick Airport incident here.
The incident involving the flights resume at Copenhagen airport also raises wider security concerns in the region. Recent reports of Russian drones and fighter jets violating NATO airspace have heightened tensions, though no direct link has been established. As investigations continue, authorities are urging the public to stay clear of the affected airspace and check with their airlines for updated flight information. The focus remains on ensuring the safety of air travel in the face of these new threats.
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