Unmanned Aerial Disruptions: How Drone Sightings Are Impacting Flights in Norway and Denmark

Two major airports in Scandinavia, Oslo and Copenhagen, were thrown into chaos recently due to drone sightings. This disruption affected countless travelers as both airports had to shut down operations for several hours.

In Copenhagen, airspace was closed for almost four hours after several large unidentified drones were seen. During this time, no flights were permitted to take off or land. Danish police noted that the drones were operated by someone who clearly had experience. “We have concluded that this was what we would call a capable operator,” said Chief Superintendent Jens Jespersen. He explained that the drones moved in from various directions, turning their lights on and off before disappearing after several hours.

Copenhagen Airport, serving nearly 30 million passengers a year, reopened around 12:20 AM local time. However, delays and cancellations continued to affect flights as they tried to get back on schedule. Some arrivals were diverted to other airports in Denmark and nearby Sweden.

Meanwhile, Oslo Airport faced similar issues. The airport was closed for about three hours due to a separate drone sighting earlier that day. Incoming flights had to be redirected, causing further inconvenience to travelers.

Interestingly, this wasn’t the first incident involving drones in Norway. On Monday, authorities arrested two foreigners for flying drones over a sensitive area near a medieval castle in Oslo. While it’s unclear if there’s a connection to the incidents at the airports, it raised concerns about drone safety and security.

This timing is particularly alarming given recent tensions in Europe. Earlier this month, violations of Polish and Romanian airspace by Russian drones heightened security concerns across the continent. NATO has responded by strengthening defenses along the eastern flank, though there’s currently no evidence linking the recent drone activities in Denmark and Norway to those Russian incidents.

The situation highlights the increasing prevalence and potential dangers of drone use, especially near busy air traffic areas. As drone technology becomes more accessible, authorities may need to reconsider regulations and enforcement to ensure public safety.



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