Drones spotted near four Danish airports; authorities say no threat to public

Drones were spotted overnight Wednesday into Thursday near Aalborg Airport in northern Denmark, as well as three smaller airports, police said Thursday. The sightings began shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday and ended just before 1 a.m. Thursday. Authorities said they were unable to neutralize the drones but stressed there was no threat to the public. Flights were halted for several hours at Aalborg Airport, which also serves as a military base.

Air traffic at Aalborg was temporarily suspended, while flights at Esbjerg, Sønderborg and Skrydstrup were disrupted for parts of the night. Police did not immediately disclose whether the incidents were connected or whether a single operator was responsible, and there were no reported injuries or damage. Officials said more information would be released as investigations continued.

This week’s events follow a similar drone overflight near Copenhagen Airport, which grounded flights for hours. Police described the Copenhagen operation as the work of a capable actor and said investigators were examining possible motives. Some officials and security analysts have raised concerns about the possibility of foreign-state involvement, though no attribution has been confirmed publicly.

Officials with Denmark’s government said a news conference was planned for Thursday morning to provide updates and outline potential security responses. It was not immediately clear whether the Copenhagen incident was connected to the later sightings or if authorities believed multiple operators were active.

Authorities stressed that, despite the disruptions, there were no injuries reported and the public remains at low risk. Investigators are reviewing airspace data, radar tracks and security footage to determine flight paths and operators, while authorities continue to monitor air traffic control feeds for any further activity.

The incidents have prompted discussions about aviation security across northern Europe, where several countries have reported drone-related disruptions in recent years. Danish officials say they will assess surveillance and response procedures to reduce vulnerability to similar events in the future.