Drones target four Danish airports in hybrid attack, officials say

Four Danish airports were targeted by drones on Wednesday in what authorities described as a hybrid attack designed to sow fear and division. Aalborg Airport, Esbjerg, Sønderborg and Skrydstrup were reported to have been in the flight path of low-flying drones. Aalborg, in northern Denmark, also houses a military base, and Skrydstrup is an air base that hosts fighter jets. The drone sightings began around 10 p.m. and continued into the early hours of Thursday, with Aalborg partly closed for several hours. Billund Airport also faced a temporary closure after unverified reports of drone activity were received by authorities.

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said the incidents did not appear coincidental and described them as a "hybrid attack." "It certainly does not look like a coincidence. It looks systematic," he said, adding that the operation involved a "professional actor" behind the drones, though he did not explicitly name any country. The statements underscored the government's view that the drones were part of a coordinated effort rather than isolated, random intrusions.

Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said the flyovers were intended to fuel fear and division and vowed to pursue faster ways to neutralize drone threats. He stressed that while the drones did not pose an immediate physical danger, the disruptions threatened travel and public safety. Danish authorities did not report any injuries.

Earlier Monday, Copenhagen Airport experienced a drone-related disruption that grounded flights and prompted temporary travel disruptions. Russia's embassy in Copenhagen issued a statement denying involvement in the incidents, calling them a staged provocation and arguing they could be used to escalate tensions connected to the Ukrainian conflict. The embassy also rejected the notion that Russia sought to destabilize Denmark or the broader region. The embassy's statement said, "Undoubtedly, they will be used as a pretext for further escalating tension in the interests of forces seeking by all means to prolong the Ukrainian conflict and extend it to other countries."

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said she was in contact with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and that the two leaders would work together to ensure safety and security at airports and critical infrastructure. She did not comment on operational details but pledged continued vigilance and rapid responses to potential threats.

Security concerns in Denmark are rising as regional tensions intensify. In recent weeks, Russian military jets entered Estonian airspace, and Russian drones have been reported over Poland. Western officials have urged caution in attribution while pledging support for sovereign airspace protection as incidents unfold across northern Europe.

Investigators from the police and intelligence services are reviewing flight data, airport footage and other material to determine who was behind the drones and how they were operated. Authorities said they would disclose new findings as they become available and warned pilots and the traveling public to remain vigilant. No group has claimed responsibility for Wednesday's incidents.