Copenhagen/Oslo, September 23, 2025 (Agencies) — Authorities in Denmark and Norway temporarily suspended air traffic at their busiest airports late Monday and early Tuesday following multiple sightings of large drones near runways, triggering security alerts and widespread travel disruption across the Nordic region.
In Denmark, Copenhagen Airport—the largest in Scandinavia—halted all take-offs and landings at 8:26pm local time after “three or four large drones” were observed flying near the facility. The closure lasted nearly four hours, affecting approximately 30 departures and stranding over 20,000 passengers. At least 15 flights were diverted to alternate airports, according to flight tracking data.
Danish police confirmed that armed forces were activated in response, though no drones were intercepted. “The drones have disappeared and we have not taken any of them,” said Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jakob Hansen. Investigators believe the drones may have been operated by a “capable individual” seeking to demonstrate technical prowess, but no arrests have been made.
In Norway, Oslo Airport shut its airspace from midnight after two separate drone sightings were reported. All departing flights were canceled or delayed, and incoming aircraft were redirected to Gothenburg and Malmö in Sweden. Operations resumed at 3:22am local time, though officials warned of continued delays and six confirmed cancellations by morning.
Police in both countries have launched parallel investigations and are coordinating efforts to determine whether the incidents are linked. The timing and nature of the sightings have raised concerns about regional security, especially given recent drone incursions into NATO airspace by Russian aircraft earlier this year.
Adding to the unease, Oslo Police had earlier detained two Singaporean nationals for allegedly flying drones over Akershus Fortress, a historic government site in the Norwegian capital. Authorities have not confirmed whether the arrests are connected to the airport disruptions.
The incidents follow a weekend of chaos at major European airports, where electronic check-in and boarding systems were crippled by outages. London’s Heathrow, Berlin Brandenburg, and Brussels International were among those affected, with 73 flights canceled. Several outlets have attributed the disruption to a cyberattack targeting Collins Aerospace, a key aviation systems provider.
As investigations continue, both Denmark and Norway have increased surveillance around critical infrastructure and reiterated their commitment to regional aviation safety.