Drones over Danish airports were reported late Wednesday and into early Thursday, prompting temporary closures, diversions and an emergency security response. Authorities describe a professional actor and a possible hybrid attack, while stressing there is no direct military threat to Denmark. Ministers will present new counter‑drone measures as investigations continue.
Timeline at Aalborg Airport
First sighting at 21:44 CEST (Wed 24 Sep) triggered a police operation that led to a temporary closure of Aalborg Airport, with three flights diverted in the evening. The last drone near the airport was seen at 00:54 CEST (Thu 25 Sep). Around 02:55 CEST, North Jutland Police assessed the area was clear and the airspace reopened shortly after. Police say the drones flew with lights on and were not brought down; operators remain unidentified.
South and West Jutland: Esbjerg, Sønderborg and Skrydstrup
Around 22:00 CEST (Wed), drones were observed near Esbjerg, Sønderborg and the military air base at Skrydstrup. The last verified activity in the south was at 02:08 CEST (Thu). No airports in South Jutland were closed overnight because no scheduled flights were due before morning, but police confirm multiple observations from the ground of drones flying with lights.
Billund: one‑hour shutdown, unconfirmed sighting
Billund Airport briefly closed for about one hour early Thursday after a report of illegal drone activity; police later said they could not confirm a violation. Operations resumed and traffic is back to normal.
Ministers: hybrid attack, professional actor, no direct military threat
At a morning press conference, Minister of Defence (Forsvarsministeren) Troels Lund Poulsen and Minister of Justice (Justitsministeren) Peter Hummelgaard called the incidents a “hybrid attack” and said a “professional actor” is likely responsible.
Poulsen underlined that the Armed Forces have the capability to down drones but that public safety guided the decision not to shoot in these cases. He also said the drones did not come from far away, distinguishing this pattern from earlier events, and reiterated that there is no direct military threat to Denmark.
NATO dimension: Denmark considers Article 4 consultations
The government is considering NATO Article 4 consultations in response to the week’s incursions, following recent airspace violations reported by other allies.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has discussed the situation with NATO’s Secretary‑General, and the government says closer NATO cooperation on critical‑infrastructure protection and counter‑UAS capabilities is expected.
Brussels and the maritime angle
According to Danish media coverage of EU reactions, the European Commission has signalled that the “arrow points to Russia,” while Danish ministers stress there is no proof and no attribution yet.
Investigative reporting has also highlighted two tankers with Russian links that were within drone flight range of both the Copenhagen incident earlier this week and last night’s Jutland sightings. Authorities caution that this is not evidence of involvement; maritime launch remains one of several hypotheses.
What we know — and what we do not
Known: Multiple drone sightings were recorded across Denmark — at Aalborg, Esbjerg, Sønderborg and Skrydstrup, with a precautionary shutdown at Billund. At Aalborg, the first report came at 21:44 CEST (Wed 24 Sep), the last drone near the airport was seen at 00:54 CEST (Thu 25 Sep), and by ~02:55 CEST police assessed the area as clear and the airspace reopened.
In South Jutland, the last verified activity was logged at 02:08 CEST. Aalborg and Billund both experienced temporary closures; three flights were diverted from Aalborg, and nationwide traffic was back to normal Thursday morning.
Witness accounts and police reports indicate drones flying with lights; none were downed and the operators remain unidentified. A joint investigation by police, PET, and the Armed Forces is under way, including an assessment of counter‑drone options.
Unknown: The type and number of drones at each site, their launch points, and the operators are still undetermined. It is also unclear whether these incidents are linked to the Copenhagen/Kastrup shutdown two days earlier. The perpetrator and intent remain unknown; attribution is unconfirmed pending the ongoing investigation.
Why this matters for Denmark, the Nordics and the EU
The incidents test Denmark’s counter‑UAS posture at civil and military sites and add to a broader Nordic–EU discussion on hybrid threats. Expect new legal powers for infrastructure owners to neutralise drones, faster detection/response tools, and strengthened NATO coordination on airport and airspace protection.
