Drone Incursions Disrupt Danish Airports Again

Report by “Safarti Tarjuman” International News Desk

Copenhagen — Denmark faced a new wave of drone incursions overnight, forcing temporary closures at multiple airports and raising fresh alarms about the vulnerability of European airspace. Authorities described the incidents as hybrid attacks designed to spread fear, though they stopped short of directly blaming Russia.

The disruptions briefly shut down Aalborg Airport — used for both commercial and military operations — for three hours, while Billund Airport, Denmark’s second largest, was closed for one hour. Police also confirmed sightings of drones near Esbjerg and Sønderborg airports, Skrydstrup Airbase (home to Denmark’s F-16 and F-35 fighter jets), and a military facility in Holstebro.

“This clearly shows that we currently lack the capacity to stop drones from intruding into our airspace over critical infrastructure,” said Peter Viggo Jakobsen, Associate Professor at the Royal Danish Defence College.

Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen described the incidents as “systematic” and labeled them hybrid attacks, though he emphasized Denmark faced “no direct military threat.”

Armed Forces Chief Michael Hyldgaard admitted the country’s drone defense remains underdeveloped:

“We have a wide range of capabilities in the Armed Forces, but we would like to have more.”

Opposition lawmakers criticized the government’s response. Pelle Dragsted of the Red-Green Alliance posted on X, accusing officials of spending billions on defense “but no control over the most basic thing: protection of our vulnerable infrastructure.”

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen discussed the incidents with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, signaling Denmark may consider consultations under NATO’s Article 4, which allows members to raise security concerns.

The incursions mirror recent incidents across Europe. Earlier this month, Poland shot down suspected Russian drones in its airspace, while Norway briefly closed Oslo Airport after a drone sighting.

Although Danish officials have not presented evidence linking Moscow to the incidents, Frederiksen previously described similar drone activity in Copenhagen as “the most serious attack yet on Denmark’s critical infrastructure.”

The Russian Embassy in Copenhagen dismissed speculation about Moscow’s involvement as “absurd.” Analysts, however, argue the pattern fits Russia’s strategy of testing NATO without crossing into direct confrontation.

“The Russians — if it’s them, and I think it is — are doing what they’ve long excelled at: pushing right up to the edge of triggering a NATO military response, but not over it,” analyst Jakobsen noted.

The incidents come as Denmark accelerates military investments, including plans to acquire long-range precision weapons and hosting Ukrainian missile fuel production near the Skrydstrup Airbase — a move criticized by Moscow.

With Denmark currently holding the EU’s rotating presidency and set to host EU leaders in Copenhagen next week, the latest drone incursions highlight urgent vulnerabilities in Europe’s airspace security and growing concerns of hybrid warfare.

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