Copenhagen Airport closed due to drone sightings

Copenhagen Airport (CPH), Scandinavia’s busiest, ground to a halt on the night of Monday, September 22, after sightings of two to three large, unidentified drones called for a four-hour airspace closure. 

The incident, which began around 8.30pm CEST, disrupted over 190 flights and stranded thousands of passengers, raising fresh concerns about aviation security in Northern Europe.

Copenhagen Police reported the drones, described as “sophisticated and not toy-like”, flying near restricted airspace. The airport, handling 30 million passengers annually, shut down operations and diverted 51 incoming flights to nearby airports like Malmö, Sweden, and cancelled 109 others, according to Flightradar24. Full operations resumed by 12.30am on September 23, but delays continue, with 10 of 26 morning departures affected.

Large drones watched for several hours over Copenhagen Airport

The drones were observed for several hours before disappearing on their own, and no one is daring to say where they originated. Authorities deployed a significant response but have made no arrests. Copenhagen Airport have urged passengers to check airline apps for updates, as the ripple effects continued into Tuesday morning.

The incident coincided with a similar disruption at Oslo Airport (OSL), where airspace briefly closed for an hour later, affecting 30 flights. Danish and Norwegian authorities are still probing potential links, though no evidence confirms a connection.

Social media footage of an object over Copenhagen’s runway sparked debate, with some analysts suggesting it could be a low-flying aircraft, like a Copenhagen Air Taxi plane spotted at 400 feet.

Copenhagen Airport drone sightings at worst time

The timing is leading to natural suspicion at a time of heightened NATO concerns over Russian drone incursions and sabotage in the region. Recent airspace violations and a cyberattack on European airports, including Heathrow and Berlin, have added to the unease. Police called the drone operator a “capable actor”, hinting at advanced technology.

As investigations continue, with a police briefing at 7am offering no new leads, the incident recalls the 2018 Gatwick Airport shutdown that stranded 140,000 passengers.