Drones Ground Danish Airports Amid Rising Tensions in Eastern Europe

On Wednesday evening, air traffic at Aalborg Airport in northern Denmark was suspended due to the presence of drones in the vicinity. This incident marks the second time in just a few days that a Danish airport has faced closures related to drone activity, following a similar occurrence at Copenhagen Airport earlier in the week. Authorities are still investigating the incidents, as the identities of those operating the drones remain unknown. Aalborg Airport, located in the Northern Jutland region, serves not only civilian flights but also functions as a military base, making the recent drone sightings particularly concerning. The police reported that at approximately 9:44 PM on Wednesday, multiple drones were detected flying over the airport. However, they did not specify the exact number of drones involved. The aerial disruptions continued well into the night, with reports of drone activity persisting until after midnight. Additionally, drones were spotted near three smaller airports in southern Denmark – Esbjerg, Sønderborg, and Skrydstrup – though operations at these locations were not halted. These incidents have occurred amid escalating tensions in Northern and Eastern Europe, particularly due to increased aerial incursions by Russian aircraft and drones. Notably, Copenhagen Airport is situated about 500 kilometers in a direct line from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, raising further alarms regarding air security. On the same day as the drone sightings in Denmark, a GPS interference attempt was reported targeting a military aircraft carrying Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles near Kaliningrad. This further highlights the growing concerns over airspace security in the region. Additionally, Oslo Airport in Norway experienced its own disruption on Tuesday morning when air traffic was suspended for three hours due to a drone sighting, although the connection between these events remains unclear. The recent uptick in drone sightings and airspace closures has prompted discussions about the necessity of strengthening air defenses across Europe, as NATO contemplates enhancing protective measures in Eastern European territories to prevent future incidents and ensure the safety of civilian and military flights alike. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2