SAEDNEWS: Unidentified drones forced Copenhagen and Oslo airports to close their airspace, disrupting flights and raising security concerns amid ongoing Russian airspace violations in Europe.
Copenhagen Airport briefly closed its airspace on Monday after sightings of “two to three unidentified drones.” Approximately 15 flights were diverted to other airports, according to airport spokeswoman Lise Agerley Kurstein.
Meanwhile, Oslo Airport in Norway shut its airspace from midnight local time due to a separate drone sighting. All flights were redirected to nearby airports, a spokesperson for Avinor, Norway’s airport operator, confirmed.
Copenhagen police reported seeing “three or four big drones” flying back and forth over the airport. Duty officer Anette Ostenfeldt said, “They are bigger than what you as a private individual can buy,” noting that authorities were investigating whether the drones were military or civilian.
The incidents caused temporary flight disruptions but no immediate injuries were reported.
The drone sightings coincide with recent airspace violations by Russia in multiple European countries. Estonia reported three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entering its airspace without permission last Friday. Poland also reported 19 Russian drones flying into its airspace during an airstrike on Ukraine the week prior, some of which were shot down by the Polish Air Force and NATO allies. Romania registered another Russian drone in its territory.
The United Nations Security Council convened on Monday to address these violations, highlighting the growing concern over aerial security in Europe.
Russia’s ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, denied the allegations, stating that the MiG-31 flights were “strictly in accordance with international airspace regulations.” The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed that monitoring confirmed no breach of Estonian borders.
However, NATO allies condemned Russia at the UNSC, warning that such actions risk direct armed confrontation. United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated, “Your reckless actions risk direct armed confrontation between NATO and Russia. Our alliance is defensive, but be under no illusion we stand ready to defend NATO’s skies and NATO’s territory.”
The sudden closures of major airports in Copenhagen and Oslo caused significant delays and diversions. Travelers reported confusion and frustration, with some flights delayed for hours while authorities assessed the threat.
“This is unnerving,” said one stranded passenger in Copenhagen. “You never think about drones shutting down an entire airport, but today it happened.”
Authorities are urging the public to remain calm while the police and air traffic control teams continue investigations.
NATO’s North Atlantic Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to discuss the recent drone incidents and airspace violations. Authorities in Copenhagen and Oslo continue to monitor the skies closely to prevent further disruptions.
The recent events underline the vulnerability of civil aviation to drone activity, especially amid heightened geopolitical tensions in Europe. Security experts warn that without stricter regulations and monitoring, similar incidents could happen elsewhere, potentially posing threats to civilian safety and international relations.
