Inbound flights heading towards Aalborg Airport in Denmark were redirected last night as the airport, also utilized for military purposes, was closed due to the presence of drones in its airspace.
Authorities confirmed that drones were sighted near Aalborg airport with their lights on, prompting the closure of the airspace. This incident occurred shortly after Copenhagen Airport had to shut down due to drone activity, causing significant disruptions.
Reports indicated that up to three autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles were detected flying over Aalborg Airport, leading to the cancellation and delay of outgoing flights. Despite initial plans to reopen the airport at 4 am, departures to Amsterdam and Copenhagen were affected, with uncertainties surrounding flights scheduled for 7 am, including those to Rhodes and Oslo.
Niels Hemmingsen, the airport CEO, stated that the airspace over Aalborg Airport had to be closed following drone sightings. This event occurred just days after Copenhagen Airport experienced a similar drone-related closure, raising security concerns across Europe.
European air traffic control authorities announced that all arrivals and departures at Aalborg Airport would remain suspended until 06:00 local time on Thursday, necessitating the diversion of flights to other Danish airports. Several flights were already rerouted due to the closure.
Apart from Aalborg and Copenhagen, drone sightings were also reported near airports in Esbjerg, Sønderborg, and Skrydstrup in Denmark, prompting police presence and ongoing investigations.
The disruption at Aalborg Airport follows a series of recent drone-related incidents at various European airports, including Heathrow and Oslo. Danish authorities are monitoring the situation closely, with concerns about potential security threats posed by unauthorized drone activity.