Danish police reported the sighting of several unidentified drones over four airports on Tuesday: Aalborg, Esbjerg, Sonderborg, and the Skrydstrup air base, home to Denmark's F-35 stealth fighters and F-16 fighter jets. The drones departed after several hours, their origin and purpose remaining unknown.
The incident forced the closure of Aalborg, one of Denmark's largest airports, for several hours. Esbjerg and Sonderborg airports remained open as no flights were scheduled during the drones' presence.
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Danish F-35 fighter jets at Skrydstrup air base in 9/2023. Photo: Danish Ministry of Defence |
Danish F-35 fighter jets at Skrydstrup air base in 9/2023. Photo: Danish Ministry of Defence
"We were unable to bring down the drones. They were flying over a very wide area for an extended period. We have not yet apprehended the operator of these devices," Jesper Madsen, chief of police in the North Jutland region, stated.
According to South Jutland police, the drones were equipped with lights and visible from the ground, but their type and motive for operating over the airports remain unclear. Local authorities are collaborating with the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) and the military to investigate.
Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen believes "a professional party" is behind the drone incursions. "This is a systematic operation, occurring at multiple locations simultaneously. I would define this as a hybrid attack using various types of drones," Poulsen said.
The Russian Embassy in Denmark described the incident as a "staged provocation" aimed at escalating tensions, calling suggestions of Moscow's involvement "absurd".
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Police vehicles outside Copenhagen Airport, Denmark on 22/9. Photo: AFP |
Police vehicles outside Copenhagen Airport, Denmark on 22/9. Photo: AFP
Denmark also closed Copenhagen's airport on 22/9 due to unidentified drones. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen expressed suspicion of Russian involvement, deeming it "the most serious attack on critical infrastructure" in Denmark.
Several NATO members have recently suggested Russia is testing the alliance's defenses, following drone incursions into Polish and Romanian airspace, as well as allegations of MiG-31 fighter jets entering Estonian airspace.
The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that it only targets sites within Ukraine, and did not target Poland in the drone incident. Moscow expressed its willingness to consult with Warsaw on the matter. The ministry also maintained that the MiG-31 jets "strictly adhered to international airspace regulations" during a transfer flight from Karelia to the Kaliningrad exclave on 19/9, emphasizing tracking data showing no violation of Estonian airspace.
Nguyen Tien (AFP, AP, Al Jazeera)
