Copenhagen and Oslo airports were forced to close temporarily after multiple drones were spotted near the facilities, in what Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called “the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date.” The Copenhagen airport, also serving southern Sweden, was shut for several hours on Monday night, while Oslo airport was closed for three hours. Authorities in Denmark are investigating the drone sightings, which police described as the work of a “capable operator.” The drones reportedly appeared from multiple directions, switching lights on and off before disappearing. No suspects have yet been identified. Norwegian officials are probing whether the incidents at Oslo and Copenhagen are connected. Frederiksen said the events should be viewed in the context of recent hybrid threats in Europe, including drone incursions over Poland and Romania, airspace violations in Estonia, and recent cyber attacks on European airports. While she did not explicitly blame Russia, she noted that the pattern of events resembles previous hybrid attacks. Russia has denied involvement. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre highlighted multiple airspace violations by Russian aircraft this year, describing the incidents as “not acceptable,” though smaller in scale compared to events in other European countries. Experts suggest the drones may have been launched from ships in the Baltic, possibly linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet.” The drones involved were reportedly large fixed-wing models requiring specialized launch mechanisms, pointing to a sophisticated, likely state-backed operation. European leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen and NATO officials, are monitoring the situation closely, emphasizing the need to address ongoing security challenges at European borders.
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