Denmark bans all flights ahead of European summit

2025-09-29 08:35:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Denmark has banned all civilian drone flights this week ahead of a European Union summit in Copenhagen, the country's transport minister said on Sunday.

The ministry said the decision was made with the aim of "simplifying security work" for the police and that they could not accept "foreign drones that create insecurity and disruption."

Denmark is one of several European countries to have reported "drone incidents" in recent weeks, with the first drone over Danish military bases only on Saturday.

Defense ministers from 10 EU countries have agreed to create a wall of drones in response to such sightings, and NATO says it has "increased vigilance" across the Baltics.

In their statement announcing the ban, the transport ministry said police were on "significantly increased alert" ahead of this week's summit and that they had to "look after Danes and our guests."

The ban will remain in effect until October 3, and violations could result in a fine or imprisonment of up to two years.

Denmark currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.

Unidentified drones have been reported in Denmark since September 22, when sightings of them forced the closure of Copenhagen and Oslo airports.

Aalborg and Billund airports were also forced to suspend operations last week due to drone activity.

Danish investigators have not yet been able to identify those responsible for the flights, but the defense minister called it a "hybrid attack" that was part of a "systematic operation."

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said authorities were still investigating who was behind the incursions and refused to rule out Russia.

Moscow says it "firmly rejects" any suggestion that it was involved in the Danish incidents.

Russia has been accused of carrying out hybrid attacks in the past, and Europe has been on high alert after several NATO member states reported Russian intrusions into their airspace.

Estonia and Poland requested a consultation with other NATO members last week after about 20 Russian drones crossed into Poland and Russian MiG31 jets entered Estonian airspace in separate incidents.

In addition to reports from Denmark, Norway and Romania also recorded separate drone incidents over the weekend.

Norwegian airport operator Avinor reported drone "activity" over Bronnoysund Airport on Sunday and investigations are ongoing after "possible drone sightings" near Norway's largest military base on Saturday.

Flights were also diverted to Bucharest on Sunday after a drone was spotted in the airspace above the airport by the pilots of a Turkish Airlines flight.

Romania passed new legislation earlier this month to increase the authority of air force pilots to shoot down unidentified aircraft and drones./ CNA