Scandinavia's two largest airports, Copenhagen and Oslo, were temporarily closed following drone sightings that led to significant delays and flight diversions. The incident, which unfolded overnight into Tuesday, disrupted travel plans for tens of thousands of people. On Monday evening, several large drones were reported near Copenhagen Airport, halting all takeoffs and landings for nearly four hours. The airport reopened after midnight, but delays and cancellations continued.
Copenhagen Airport, serving nearly 30 million passengers annually, is the main hub for Denmark and southern Sweden. Some flights were diverted to other Danish towns, as well as airports in Norway, Sweden, and Germany. Oslo Airport also saw a three-hour closure, with further diversions occurring Tuesday morning due to another drone incident.
Earlier, Oslo police detained two foreigners suspected of flying a drone in a restricted area, but no confirmed link to the airport incidents has been established. Europe remains alert following recent cases of Russian drones entering Polish and Romanian airspace, though there is currently no direct evidence of Russian involvement in Denmark or Norway.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the appearance of drones near Copenhagen Airport a serious attack on critical infrastructure. Authorities have not ruled out any theories and are considering the events in the context of recent cyberattacks and drone incidents at other European airports. Russia, as usual, denies involvement, but Western intelligence services have for years warned about hybrid threats, from sabotage to cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns.
Officials noted the drones came from different directions, varied in size, and may have even been launched from ships near Copenhagen. Police suspect an experienced operator was behind the activity and are also considering a possible training flight. Technically, Russia can launch drones over long distances—up to 2,500 km—putting much of Europe within range. European air defense remains vulnerable to such threats, and the incidents have had an information impact, affecting public sentiment and Western unity.
In summary, while there is no direct evidence of Russian involvement yet, the technical capability and motives are widely discussed. European authorities prepare for future threats and are working to strengthen security systems.
