Denmark, Norway close airports after drone sightings — Danish PM doesn't rule out Russian involvement
Editor's note: This is a developing story and will be updated.
Airports in Copenhagen and Oslo suspended operations for several hours late on Sept. 22 following drone sightings in the area, forcing flight diversions and disrupting travel for thousands of passengers.
"CPH (Copenhagen) Airport is currently closed for takeoffs and landings, as two to three larger drones have been observed flying in the area," the police said in a statement posted on X at approximately 8:46 p.m. local time.
A spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that all traffic at Denmark's largest airport had been suspended but declined to provide further details. At least 15 flights were diverted to other airports, according to flight-tracking site FlightRadar24.
Elsewhere in the region, two foreign nationals were arrested in Oslo for flying drones near a military site.
"Two foreign nationals arrested for drone flying within the prohibited zone," Oslo police reported at 9:10 p.m. local time.
Copenhagen Airport reopened at around 0:30 a.m. local time after being shut for nearly four hours. In Norway's Oslo, flights also resumed following roughly four hours of restricted airspace.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the incident must be viewed in the context of recent cyberattacks against European airports and Russian aerial incursions inside NATO territory.
Many European NATO members have been on edge after recent airspace violations by Russian drones in Poland and Romania and fighter jets in Estonia.
When asked whether Copenhagen suspects Russian involvement in the latest incident, Frederiksen said the option cannot be ruled out.
"I cannot rule out that it is Russia. We have seen drones over Poland that should not have been there. We have seen activity in Romania. We have seen violations of Estonian airspace," Frederiksen said.
"Therefore, I can only say that, in my view, this is a serious attack on critical Danish infrastructure."
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed suggestions of Russian involvement as "unfounded."
The type of the detected drones was not disclosed. Copenhagen’s deputy police inspector said at a press conference that Danish police will work with Norwegian authorities to determine whether the two incidents are connected.
"We have concluded that this was what we would call a capable operator," Danish Police Chief Superintendent Jens Jespersen told journalists on Sept. 23. "It’s an actor who has the capabilities, the will, and the tools to show off in this way."
Swedish outlet Sydsvenskeren reported that several flights were diverted to Malmo, a city in southern Sweden, located east of Copenhagen across the Oresund strait that separates the two countries.
Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are all NATO members and have been staunch allies of Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
