Last night, inbound flights destined for Aalborg Airport in Denmark were redirected due to the closure of the facility, which also serves military purposes, caused by the presence of drones in its airspace.
Authorities stated that drones were sighted near Aalborg airport, prompting the closure of the airspace. Law enforcement officers are on-site conducting further investigations. The drones were observed flying with illuminated lights.
This incident occurred shortly after Copenhagen Airport had to cease operations when drones were seen in the vicinity, leading to significant disruptions on Monday night. Reports indicated the detection of up to three autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the airport’s airspace, prompting a swift police response.
While the airport management aimed to resume operations at 4 am, flights departing from Aalborg remain either canceled or delayed. Departures to Amsterdam and Copenhagen have been affected, with uncertainties surrounding flights scheduled for 7 am, including those heading to Rhodes and Oslo.
Niels Hemmingsen, the CEO of Aalborg Airport, confirmed the closure of the airspace following drone sightings in the vicinity. This incident followed the recent shutdown of Copenhagen airport due to similar drone-related security concerns.
European air traffic control authorities announced the suspension of arrivals and departures at the airport until 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT) on Thursday, diverting incoming flights to alternate Danish airports. Several inbound flights have already been rerouted.
In addition to Aalborg and Copenhagen airports, reports of drones near Esbjerg, Sønderborg, and Skrydstrup airports in Denmark have surfaced. Law enforcement agencies are actively investigating these incidents to ascertain any connections.
The closure of Aalborg Airport due to drone activity has led to the diversion of inbound flights to other airports. Flightradar reported the closure and diversion of three inbound flights.
This drone incident follows a recent cyber attack that disrupted operations at Heathrow Airport and other major European airports. Flight schedules were affected over the weekend, with lingering delays reported in some airports this week.
The closure of Aalborg Airport underscores the growing concern over drone disruptions in aviation, with similar incidents at other European airports like Oslo and Copenhagen. Danish Prime Minister hinted at possible involvement of Russian drones in recent airspace violations.
Nordjyllands Police confirmed the closure of Aalborg Airport airspace due to drone sightings and ongoing police investigations. Multiple incoming and outgoing flights have been impacted, including flights operated by SAS, Norwegian, and KLM airlines.