Denmark has reached out to NATO following a drone incident at one of its airports. Aalborg Airport in Denmark had to redirect incoming flights last night after shutting down due to drones in its airspace, which is also utilized by the military.
Authorities stated that drones were spotted near Aalborg airport, prompting the closure of the airspace for investigation by the police. The drones were observed flying with illuminated lights.
The Danish government has initiated contact with NATO regarding the intrusion but has not yet confirmed whether it has invoked Article 4, which allows a member state to raise concerns over potential territorial sovereignty threats. Notably, Article 4 differs from Article 5, which pertains to collective defense, indicating an attack on one member is perceived as an attack on all.
Denmark’s Minister of Defence, Troels Lund Poulsen, labeled the drone incident as a “hybrid attack” likely orchestrated by a skilled operative. He mentioned that the drones seemed to have been launched locally rather than from a distant location.
While there is currently no evidence linking Russia to the incident, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen did not rule out Russian involvement, particularly in light of a previous attack at Copenhagen Airport. At a morning press briefing, Mr. Poulsen emphasized the sophistication of the operation, describing it as a coordinated hybrid attack utilizing various drone types across multiple locations simultaneously.
He added that the Danish armed forces had the capability to neutralize the drones but opted against it due to potential risks to civilians. This incident follows the recent closure of Copenhagen Airport, where drones were sighted, causing significant disruptions.
Reports indicated up to three autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were detected above the airport airspace as law enforcement responded to the situation.