Unexplained drone flights occurred over four Danish airports overnight from Wednesday into Thursday, prompting significant security concerns across northern Europe. This series of incidents follows a similar event earlier in the week at Copenhagen Airport, raising questions about potential hybrid attacks and regional stability.
Danish officials are investigating the drone activities, which temporarily halted flights and involved both civilian and military airfields. While no specific actor has been identified, authorities have highlighted a high risk of espionage and sabotage in Denmark. These events underscore growing tensions in the region.
Key Takeaways
- Drones flew over four Danish airports, including military bases, overnight Wednesday to Thursday.
- Denmark's Defense Minister described the events as a "hybrid attack" by a "professional actor."
- The incidents follow a previous drone sighting at Copenhagen Airport earlier in the week.
- Danish officials are considering new legislation to allow the neutralization of unauthorized drones.
- Russia's Embassy in Denmark denied involvement, calling the incidents a "staged provocation."
Drone Activity Across Multiple Locations
The latest drone sightings took place over four Danish airports during a specific timeframe. These locations included Aalborg Airport, Esbjerg Airport, Sønderborg Airport, and Skrydstrup air base. Aalborg Airport serves both civilian and military purposes, while Skrydstrup is a key military facility housing Danish fighter jets.
The drone activity at Aalborg Airport began shortly before 10 p.m. on Wednesday and concluded just before 1 a.m. on Thursday. For several hours, flights at Aalborg were halted as a precautionary measure. Police reported that the drones were observed flying with their lights on around the airport perimeters.
Authorities decided against attempting to shoot down the drones during these incidents. The primary focus remained on public safety and assessing the nature of the unauthorized flights. Detailed information about the drones themselves, such as their size or specific models, was not immediately released.
Incident Timeline
- Wednesday evening (approx. 10 p.m.): Drone sightings begin at Aalborg Airport.
- Thursday early morning (approx. 1 a.m.): Drone activity concludes at Aalborg Airport.
- Monday evening: Previous drone incident at Copenhagen Airport, grounding flights for four hours.
Official Response and Security Concerns
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen characterized the coordinated drone flights as a "hybrid attack." He stated that the systematic nature of the incidents suggested a "professional actor" was responsible. This assessment highlights the serious view Danish officials are taking of the events.
While no direct accusations were made against any specific country, Danish intelligence officials have previously stated that the risk of Russian espionage and sabotage in Denmark is high. Finn Borch, head of the Danish Security Intelligence Service (PET), commented,
"We have seen this in other parts of Europe, and we must also expect to see it in Denmark."This statement was made during a news conference on Thursday night, emphasizing the broader regional context.
Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard indicated that the primary goal of these flyovers was to "sow fear and division." He announced that Denmark would explore new strategies to neutralize unauthorized drones. This includes potentially proposing legislation that would grant infrastructure owners the legal authority to shoot down drones operating illegally over their facilities.
Regional Tensions
Security concerns in northern Europe have escalated due to increasing Russian aggression. NATO has recently issued warnings to Russia, stating that it would use all necessary means to defend against any further airspace breaches. This follows incidents such as the downing of Russian drones over Poland and an reported intrusion by Russian fighter jets into Estonian airspace.
French President Emmanuel Macron has also stressed the need for NATO nations to react "more strongly" to Russian incursions. He emphasized the importance of preventing the perception of weakness among countries like Poland, Estonia, and Romania, suggesting that inaction could lead to further challenges for other European nations.
Previous Incident and International Discussions
The latest drone activity occurred just days after a similar incident at Copenhagen Airport. On Monday evening, drones caused flights to be grounded for several hours at Scandinavia's largest airport. Danish police described the actor behind that incident as "capable."
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the Copenhagen incident "the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date." Following this event, both Frederiksen and NATO's Secretary-General did not rule out Russian involvement. Denmark, already vigilant due to its geographical proximity to Russia, plans to participate in discussions with neighboring countries on Friday regarding the European Union's proposed "drone wall" initiative.
Prime Minister Frederiksen confirmed on the social platform X that she had been in contact with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.
"We agreed that NATO would work with Denmark on what we can do together to ensure safety and security,"she wrote, indicating a collaborative approach to enhancing regional defense.
Russia's Denial of Involvement
On Thursday, the Russian Embassy in Denmark issued a statement denying any involvement in the drone incidents. The embassy labeled the reports of disruptions at Danish airports as a "staged provocation."
The statement from the Russian Embassy further asserted, "Undoubtedly, they will be used as a pretext for further escalating tension in the interests of forces seeking by all means to prolong the Ukrainian conflict and extend it to other countries. The Russian side firmly rejects the absurd speculations of involvement in the incidents." This response highlights the diplomatic complexities surrounding the ongoing security concerns in the region.
It remains unclear whether the drone flyover at Copenhagen Airport and the subsequent incidents at the four other Danish airports are directly related. Investigations are ongoing to determine the full scope and coordination of these events.
