Copenhagen stopped airplane traffic due to drones: what is known
23 September 00:22
On the evening of September 22, Denmark’s largest airport in Copenhagen temporarily suspended operations due to the appearance of drones in the sky. This was reported by Reuters with reference to the local police, "Komersant Ukrainian" informs
What happened
According to the local police, two to four large drones were spotted over the airport. Because of this, all takeoffs and landings were stopped as of 20:26 local time (18:26 GMT).
“(The airport) is currently closed for takeoffs and landings as 2-3 large drones have been spotted in the area. The time horizon is currently unknown,” the police said in a statement.
Consequences for passengers
Copenhagen Airport (KBHL.CO) is the busiest in the Scandinavian region.
According to FlightRadar, more than 35 flights bound for Copenhagen Airport were diverted to other airports due to the drone situation.
Malmö, Billund, Aarhus, and Gothenburg received the most flights.
An airport spokesperson said police were working to identify the drones, but declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
A series of air incidents in the Baltic States
The incident with the Polish drilling rig occurred a few hours after Estonia reported that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets had intruded into its airspace over the Gulf of Finland. According to Tallinn, the planes stayed there for 12 minutes, which the government called “unprecedented audacity.” NATO forces responded promptly to the violation by intercepting the aircraft.
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Mihal said that his country had asked the allies to convene consultations under Article 4 of the NATO Charter.
Earlier this month, Article 4 was already invoked at Warsaw’s request when Polish air defense forces, supported by allied aircraft, shot down Russian drones in their airspace. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned at the time that the incidents were “the closest moment to open conflict since World War II.”
Reaction of the Allies
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski strongly condemned Moscow’s actions:
“Last week – Poland, today – Estonia. Russia is once again provoking and demonstrating its lack of interest in peace.”
He also emphasized that Warsaw expresses solidarity with Tallinn and demands a tough response from NATO.
Experts note that Russia’s regular violations of air and sea space in the Baltic region are becoming more frequent, creating additional tension on the Alliance’s eastern flank, especially after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
