After the shutdown of Copenhagen Airport, multiple airports in Denmark have reported unauthorized drone activity in recent days, prompting partial or full flight suspensions and triggering national security investigations.
Drone Incursions Disrupt Airports in Denmark
Late Wednesday night, persistent drone activity near several Danish airports led to major disruptions in air traffic and raised national security concerns. Most notably, Aalborg Airport was forced to suspend all departures and arrivals due to multiple unidentified drones flying in its airspace. According to police, the drones were described as sizable and equipped with lights, visible from the ground.
Similar drone sightings were later confirmed near the airports in Esbjerg, Sønderborg, and the military air base at Skrydstrup. Authorities stated that the drones’ behavior and appearance mirrored the recent incursion over Copenhagen Airport earlier this week, which led to the closure of Denmark’s largest air hub for nearly four hours.
Four Airports in Denmark Affected Overnight
The drone sightings over Aalborg Airport began at 9:44 PM local time, prompting police to shut down operations immediately. The final confirmed drone sighting in the area occurred at 12:54 AM, after which flight activity gradually resumed. In total, at least four drones were reported during the incident.
Meanwhile, authorities in Southern and Southern Jutland County verified that similar drone activity occurred over Esbjerg Airport, Sønderborg Airport, and Skrydstrup Air Base between midnight and early morning. These drones also featured visible lights and were seen from the ground.
A short time later, officials received a report of drones flying over northern Esbjerg. In Bornholm, police also reported flashing lights spotted above the island’s airport, though it remains unconfirmed whether these were drones. Authorities have since left the area.
Increased National Concern After Copenhagen Incident
These recent drone sightings follow a major disruption at Copenhagen Airport just two days earlier, when flights were suspended for over four hours due to drone interference. The continued recurrence of similar activity in different regions has alarmed officials and prompted coordination with national and military security forces.
Police have confirmed involvement from the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) and the Danish Armed Forces in the ongoing investigation. The nature, origin, and purpose of these drones remain unknown, as does whether they are tied to one coordinated effort.
According to the Danish National Police, these drones are not believed to be privately operated recreational devices. Instead, officials have said their features, such as size, light capabilities, and how they were piloted, indicate a more advanced and possibly malicious actor.
Response and Investigation Intensify
Due to safety concerns, plans to take down the drones were considered but ultimately not executed in Aalborg, officials said. In other areas, efforts to disable the drones will depend on whether it can be done safely, though details on specific methods were not released.
Esbjerg and Sønderborg airports did not stop operations fully due to limited scheduled flights at the time. Flight activity was not expected until after 7:00 AM in Sønderborg and after 8:00 AM in Esbjerg. In contrast, a short-term closure was also reported in Billund Airport following a drone report, but authorities were unable to confirm illegal drone activity in that case.
Unanswered Questions Remain
Despite growing concerns, authorities have not confirmed how many drones were involved at each location, who may be controlling them, or the nature of their intentions. Also unknown is whether the same group is behind all incidents, including the one in Copenhagen earlier this week.
At this point, no arrests have been made, and no group has taken responsibility. Police continue working closely with military and intelligence agencies in an escalating investigation. Lawmakers are also urged to update drone laws and defense systems.
With airports in Denmark experiencing a total of at least six separate events involving unauthorized drones in under 72 hours, this pattern has raised alarms about potential vulnerabilities in national airspace. As the investigation continues, Danish authorities urge public vigilance and encourage anyone with relevant information to come forward.
This remains a developing situation.
