Drone sightings at Oslo and Copenhagen airports led to significant flight disruptions, affecting thousands of passengers. Authorities suspect a 'capable actor' behind the incidents, which caused delays and cancellations across the region. The situation is under investigation, with no immediate threat identified.
Drone Chaos Disrupts Nordic Airports: Flights Canceled
Drone Chaos Disrupts Nordic Airports: Flights Canceled
All flights from Oslo and Copenhagen airports were halted for several hours after drones were spotted. A 'capable actor' is likely behind the incidents in Denmark, according to Copenhagen police.
"We assess that there was a potential risk to air traffic," said Jens Jespersen of the Danish police.
At around 8:30 PM on Monday evening, all air traffic at Kastrup was stopped after two or three unidentified drones were seen in the area.
They came from different directions and were located at various points over the airport.
A major police operation, including helicopters, was launched. Meanwhile, flights were redirected to nearby airports—primarily Billund and Aalborg, but also Malmö and Landvetter.
Shortly before 1 AM on Tuesday, air traffic resumed, but delays spilled over into Tuesday. It is estimated that between ten and twelve percent of a total of 400 departures and 400 arrivals will be affected.
Traffic to and from Sweden is running smoothly today, according to Swedavia.
"SAS appears to have a canceled departure from Landvetter," wrote Ellen Laurin, Deputy Press Officer at Swedavia, in an email to Expressen.
A total of 100 departures have been canceled so far, affecting around 20,000 passengers.
Zelensky: Russian Violation
The drones disappeared on their own, according to Danish police. An intensive police investigation is now underway to determine their origin and purpose.
"They were larger drones," said Jens Jespersen of the Copenhagen police during a press conference on Tuesday morning.
The assessment is that it involves a 'capable actor.' This is based on the number, size of the drones, and their four-hour circulation around the airport.
"It is an actor with the capacity, will, and tools to show themselves in this way. Perhaps also to practice," said Jens Jespersen.
Initially, there is nothing to suggest that the drones intended to attack the airport, but the assessment is still that there was a potential risk to air traffic, according to Danish police.
"We are not aware of any concrete danger situations," said Jens Jespersen.
Police refrained from shooting them down as the risks were deemed too great.
"We were dealing with quite large drones and over an area where there are fuel depots, planes with passengers, and passengers in the terminals," he told TV2.
Later that night, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote in a post on X that Russia had violated Denmark's airspace, without further specification.
"I can't say anything about that. Not because I don't want to, but because I don't know anything about it," said Jens Jespersen.
Circulated Over Oslo
In Oslo, air traffic was also stopped after drones were observed at Gardermoen airport just before midnight.
"We have taken measures to try to locate the drone, but we have not yet managed to find the drone pilot. We currently do not see the incident at Oslo airport as directly related to anything else," said Gisle Sveen of Oslo police to NRK.
Planes circled over Oslo waiting to be redirected to other airports, and at 3:30 AM, the airspace was reopened. Traffic is largely normal, but some delays may occur during the day, reports Dagbladet.
Two foreign nationals were arrested earlier in the evening in Oslo after flying drones over a prohibited zone at the military area Akershus Fortress. It is not known if the events are connected.