Denmark temporarily closed Aalborg Airport on Friday following a suspected drone sighting, marking the second airport shutdown in a matter of hours amid ongoing drone activity over several Danish airports.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the incidents as “hybrid attacks” and suggested they could be linked to Russia, though Moscow has denied any involvement, calling the claims a “staged provocation.” Similar drone incursions have been reported in Norway, Poland, Romania, and Estonia, raising security concerns amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
“These flights could multiply,” Frederiksen warned, adding that Denmark remains under threat from a country posing a significant risk to European security. Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said the drones’ aim was “to spread fear, create division and frighten us.”
Airports affected include Aalborg, Esbjerg, and Sonderborg, as well as Skrydstrup air base. Police said the drones could not be intercepted and flew over a wide area for several hours. Denmark’s Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen described the operation as “systematic” and carried out by a “professional actor,” though it posed no direct military threat.
Danish authorities are reviewing measures to detect and neutralize drones and may coordinate with NATO under Article 4, which allows urgent talks if a member’s security is at risk. Copenhagen will also host an EU leaders’ summit next week, with France offering support to secure Danish airspace.
The incidents have left some citizens uneasy. “I feel rather insecure. I live in a country where there has been peace since 1945,” said 85-year-old Birgit Larsen. Others suggested the flights could be border tests rather than direct threats.