Newsletters
Copenhagen International Airport suspended all flights Tuesday evening after reports of large drones operating in Danish airspace, according to local police and aviation authorities.
Copenhagen police announced on X that "Copenhagen International Airport is closed for departures and arrivals. 2 to 3 large drones have been observed flying in the area." The closure prompted widespread disruption to air travel across Scandinavia as authorities launched an investigation into the unauthorized drone activity.
Flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported that more than 35 flights bound for Copenhagen were diverted to alternative airports as of 10:05 p.m. local time. The affected aircraft were redirected to Billund and Aarhus airports within Denmark, as well as Malmö and Goteborg airports in neighboring Sweden.
Sweden's defence minister said that they are open to shooting down russian fighter jets that violate Sweden's airspace: "Sweden has the right to defend its airspace, with force if necessary"
The incident comes as security concerns grow about unauthorized Russian drone operations near critical infrastructure. Copenhagen International Airport serves as Denmark's largest aviation hub, handling millions of passengers annually and connecting the Nordic region to destinations worldwide.
Local media reported a significant police presence at the airport, with numerous passengers stranded in terminals awaiting updates on flight schedules. Police stated that their investigation into the drone sightings remains ongoing, though no additional details about the aircraft or their operators have been released.
The airport closure represents the latest in a series of drone-related disruptions at major international airports worldwide. Aviation authorities typically treat unauthorized drone activity near airports as serious security incidents due to the potential risk to aircraft during takeoff and landing operations.
No timeline has been provided for when normal flight operations might resume at the Copenhagen facility.
2 min read
