Aalborg airport paralyzed again as unknown drones strike
Drone attack (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
Aalborg Airport in Denmark was temporarily closed on the evening of September 25 due to the detection of unidentified drones in the airspace, according to Flightradar24 and Danish TV channel TV 2.
Airport officials stated that the safety of passengers and staff remains a priority, so any attempts by drones to enter the flight zone are taken very seriously.
As a result, flight KL1289 returned to Amsterdam, and SK1225 from Copenhagen was canceled.
"We closed the airspace at 11:40 PM. Throughout the day, we operated there with reinforced personnel, and it was our staff member who noticed the suspicious object," explained Christian Tilsted, duty officer of the North Jutland Police.
The Copenhagen police reported that they received hundreds of calls from residents who also spotted drones in the sky.
Duty officer Jesper Frandsen emphasized that all reports are being checked, although he acknowledged that the number of calls has increased significantly following extensive media coverage. According to him, witnesses are being questioned in detail to distinguish real drones from airplanes or even bright stars.
Authorities are also urging witnesses to record suspicious objects on video and submit the footage for further investigation.
Notably, this is already the third incident in the past month where unidentified drones have caused flight restrictions at Aalborg Airport. Danish authorities stressed that an investigation is underway to determine the source of the drones and identify their owners.
Aalborg Airport has now resumed operations, but authorities keep the option to temporarily close it in case of further airspace violations.
Experts note that the presence of drones near civilian airports poses a serious threat to aviation safety. Similar incidents in other European countries have already led to flight delays and even emergencies.
What is known about the drone attacks in Denmark
Denmark has recorded a series of drone incidents that have threatened the operation of key airports.
Unknown drones first blocked operations at Copenhagen and Oslo airports for several hours late in the evening on September 22.
Then, on September 23, drones appeared over Copenhagen’s Kastrup Airport, forcing the airport to close temporarily.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called the situation a serious attack on the country’s critical infrastructure. She did not rule out possible Russian involvement in the appearance of drones over Copenhagen.
On September 25, a similar incident occurred at Aalborg Airport, and later drones were also reported near other airports - in Esbjerg, Sønderborg, and at the Skrydstrup Air Base, where F-16 and F-35 fighter jets are stationed. Police confirmed that these were not private or commercial drones.
On September 26, the EU plans to hold a meeting to discuss the creation of a so-called drone wall along the EU’s eastern border to protect against similar threats.
