Copenhagen flights halted after drone sightings; Oslo reports separate incident as authorities investigate

Copenhagen Airport suspended outgoing flights and diverted others Monday night after Danish police reported sightings of two to three large drones over the field. Police said on X that the drones prompted the grounding of departures and required diversions to nearby airports. Copenhagen Airport, Scandinavia’s largest, said it was following police guidance and that the status of operations remained unclear, with no announced timetable for a return to normal service. The disruption affected both international and domestic flights, with travelers faced with delays, rerouted itineraries, and a flurry of updates from airlines as crews adjusted schedules.

At Oslo’s Gardermoen Airport, a separate drone incident was reported the same evening, forcing all traffic to be moved to a single runway for a period. Norwegian authorities later indicated that traffic had returned to normal and that there was no immediate claim of responsibility. The Oslo event compounded concerns about drone activity in the region and the potential for further impacts on air traffic as investigators review the circumstances surrounding both episodes.

Security concerns in northern Europe have been heightened in recent weeks, with authorities citing a string of disruptive events tied to drones, as well as reported Russian sabotage activity and multiple fighter-jet incursions into NATO airspace. Officials have urged caution and stressed that the incidents are being treated as separate investigations while regional agencies assess any potential links and broader risk factors. The environment around airspace security in the region has grown more complex as countries bolster warnings and surveillance capabilities in response to evolving threats.

Local media reported a significant police presence near Copenhagen Airport as investigators collected evidence and reassessed security protocols in the wake of the drone sightings. While authorities have not publicly assigned responsibility, officials emphasized that the incidents are under active review and that guidance from law enforcement remains the guiding principle for ongoing operations and future precautionary measures. The situation underscores the challenges airports face in managing sudden security-related disruptions while maintaining essential air service.

Officials said there was no immediate attribution of responsibility and that the investigation remained ongoing. In the meantime, carriers advised passengers to check in advance for changes to flight schedules and to allow extra time when traveling to or from Copenhagen and Oslo. Travelers and airline staff were urged to monitor official updates from airport authorities and national agencies as authorities continue to sort out the sequence of events and any potential links between the incidents.

Observers note that the two drone episodes come against a backdrop of heightened regional security concerns, including reports of increased drone activity near NATO airspace and ongoing security drills and intelligence assessments across northern Europe. While the exact motives and operators behind the drones remain undetermined, the episodes have prompted renewed discussions about how airports, border security services, and military authorities coordinate responses to recent and potential future drone-related threats. The affected airports said they would maintain heightened security awareness and adjust procedures as necessary while investigations proceed.

As the region awaits further details, authorities emphasize that the priority remains safe and orderly travel, with ongoing efforts to determine what happened, assess any risk, and prevent recurrence. Officials have not provided a timeline for when operations might return to full normalcy, noting that the situation remains fluid and subject to police direction. In the interim, airports and airlines are closely coordinating to minimize disruption and relay timely information to passengers.