Intel Brief: Denmark airport disruptions due to drone flights
- alessia988
- Sep 26
- 4 min read
Report date: 26/09/2025
Where: Denmark, Jutland peninsula.
Who is involved: Airport authorities, Danish National Police, unknown drone operator(s), Danish government.
What happened?
Between 22 and 23 September over 30 flights to Copenhagen Airport were delayed or diverted to Billund and Aarhus in Denmark as well as Malmo and Gothenburg in Sweden due to two to three large drones spotted flying in the airfield vicinity during nocturnal hours.
Starting 21:44 hours local time on 24/09/2025, drone sightings were reported in the vicinity of Aalborg Airport, used for both commercial and military flights, resulting in the diversion of at least two flights to Copenhagen and one to Karup. North Jutland police reported the final drone sighting at 00:54.
On 25/09/2025 at 04:21 hours local time, reports indicated drone activity in the vicinity of Billund Airport, prompting authorities to close the airspace for one hour as a precautionary measure, although local authorities were unable to confirm any sightings at the time of writing
Unconfirmed drone sightings were also reported at multiple critical locations in Southern Jutland, including Sønderborg Airport, as well as Esbjerg, Holstebro (noted for critical military infrastructure), and Danish airforce base Skrydstrup.
Authorities chose not to neutralise the drones to avoid collateral damage such as injuring passengers or damaging fuel depots or aircraft.
On 26/09/2025, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced that Denmark faced sustained hybrid threats that have shown vulnerabilities enabling better counter hybrid attacks, raising alert levels and preparing for different scenarios, including a mandate to shoot down enemy drones in the future.
No perpetrator, drone-type, origin or destination have been definitively identified by Danish authorities for any of the incidents.
Areas of reported drone sightings in Denmark between 23 and 24 September 2025
Flights diverted and in holding patterns as Copenhagen airport halted operations due to drones in the vicinity on 22/09/2025
Source: FlightRadar24 (accessed 24/09/2025)
Analysis
In the past couple of weeks, there has been a notable increase in airspace-violating related incidents reported in eastern Europe and Denmark. The recent reports indicate drone flights in Aalborg, Billund and Southern Jutland, all operating with visible indicator lights, similar to the incidents reported in Copenhagen earlier in the week, suggest that the perpetrator seeks to disrupt, sow public turmoil and show capability rather than attacking assets.
In the broader European context, similar incidents possibly indicate the beginning of a trend: airport drone disruptions offer organized actors high impact at relatively low cost, undermining public confidence and straining security resources. While some observers have raised questions about potential external involvement, official investigations have not yet attributed the sightings to any particular actor or country. These developments illustrate the growing complexity of the regional security environment, especially in the aviation and critical infrastructure sectors, and the heightened vigilance required by Denmark and Europe.
In this context, Denmark also recently announced two military commitments. On 14 September, Denmark approved a temporary law that will allow the country to host Ukraine’s missile fuel production near the F-35 base in Skrydstrup. While on 18 September, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced the decision to acquire European-made long-range precision weapons. This signalled a significant shift in national security policy, showing the government’s anticipation of regional instability and the need for enhanced defence capabilities. Recent disruptions may be deliberate attempts to test defence capacity and response, similar to the events in Poland and Estonia.
In a statement given on 26 September, following the recent events, Frederiksen emphasized that Denmark has been subjected to hybrid attacks in recent days and that drones have been seen near several critical infrastructure both military and civilian considering it as a new reality for Europe and Denmark. This marks a shift from ad‑hoc crisis handling to a proactive attitude towards threats posed by drones and aviation disruptions. Expect tighter rules of engagement around airports/bases, with authorities raising alert levels and preparing for multiple scenarios and obtaining a mandate to shoot down enemy drones.
Looking ahead
European governments and airport operators are expected to implement faster response protocols to drone sightings and invest in advanced detection systems integrated with clear handover procedures for police and military authorities. Pressure is likely to increase for tighter regulation, including mandatory registration, expanded geofencing and defined legal authority to neutralise drones where this can be done without endangering passengers or infrastructure, especially after the mandate to shoot down enemy drones announced by PM Frederiksen. Airlines may be required to refine diversion strategies and passenger management processes to mitigate operational disruption. At the strategic level, a continuation of drone incidents combined with uncertainty over US security commitments may drive EU and NATO members to seek greater American support to accelerate their own security measures airspace protection, which is increasingly perceived as vulnerable. Incidents involving drones causing flight disruptions are expected to continue in the upcoming weeks given recent patterns, requiring stakeholders in the aviation field to make contingency plans and expect situational changes on short notice.
