Copenhagen, September 25 — Denmark’s Aalborg Airport in the north was shut down late Wednesday after unauthorized drones were spotted in its airspace, marking the second such incident in the country this week and prompting a police investigation, according to details received by The Chenab Times.
North Jutland Police confirmed drones were observed near the airport, leading to a temporary closure of arrivals and departures until 6:00 a.m. local time (04:00 GMT) on Thursday. At least four flights from Scandinavian Airlines, Norwegian and KLM were affected, with three diverted—two back to Copenhagen and one to Karup—as reported by Reuters and DW. The airport, which also serves as a military base for the Danish Armed Forces, saw no reported injuries, but authorities urged the public to avoid the area.
Chief Inspector Jesper Bøjgaard Madsen stated, “We cannot yet comment on the purpose of the drones flying in the area, nor can we say anything about who the actor behind it is. If we get the opportunity, we will take down the drones.” Police described the devices as visible from the ground with lights on, but could not rule out a prank while assessing any threat.
The closure follows a similar disruption at Copenhagen’s Kastrup Airport on Monday, where two to three large drones halted operations for nearly four hours, diverting around 50 flights and affecting tens of thousands of passengers. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called it “the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date,” linking it to potential hybrid threats including Russian involvement, though the Kremlin denied the allegations as “unfounded.”
These events align with heightened NATO alerts over Russian drone incursions in Estonia, Poland and Romania last week. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated, “We are a defensive alliance, yes, but we are not naive, so we see what is happening,” following a Tuesday meeting where the alliance condemned Russia’s actions and pledged to use “all necessary military and non-military tools” to defend airspace.
Danish police, in coordination with Norwegian authorities after a similar Oslo Airport closure, are investigating possible links but found none immediately. Operations at Copenhagen Airport have resumed normally. No further incidents were reported at the time of filing.
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Global Affairs Desk at The Chenab Times covers international developments, global diplomacy, and foreign policy issues through fact-based reporting, explainers, and analytical pieces. The desk focuses on major geopolitical events, diplomatic engagements, and international trends, with an emphasis on verified information, multiple perspectives, and contextual understanding of global affairs.
