Copenhagen Airport Suspends Flights Due to Drone Sightings
COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Flights at copenhagen Airport, Denmark’s largest airport, were suspended Monday evening following reports of drone activity in the vicinity, impacting travel for hundreds of passengers.
Around 8:26 p.m. local time (7:26 p.m. UK time), airport authorities halted all operations after police reported sightings of two or three large drones flying near the airfield.Approximately 35 flights were diverted to alternate airports as a result, according to flight tracking service FlightRadar.
Police are currently working to identify the drones and their origin, but have released limited details citing an ongoing investigation. An airport spokesperson declined to comment further.
Passengers experienced important disruption, with some stuck on aircraft preparing for takeoff and others stranded in the terminal awaiting updates. “We were told the plane we were due to get had been diverted to Sweden,” said passenger louise McFadzean, who was waiting to board a flight to Heathrow. “It’s quite scary and I don’t know when I’m going to get home.” Images from the airport show increased police presence as authorities assess the situation. Local media reports indicate the airport is considering options for affected passengers, including providing transportation or accommodation.
The incident follows recent travel disruptions at several European airports, including Heathrow, Brussels, Berlin, and Dublin, stemming from a cyberattack last week that targeted check-in and boarding systems. That attack, impacting a service provider named Collins Aerospace, led to flight cancellations and lengthy queues for manual check-in.
