Drone Disrupt Flights at Copenhagen, Oslo Airports

Incidents occur amid heightened concerns over Russian violations of EU airspace
On September 22, 2025, at Copenhagen Airport, the entire facility was cordoned off by police    following the sudden appearance of a drone, with all access routes to the airport placed under control.

Copenhagen Airport has reopened after a brief closure due to sightings of “unidentified drones”, while another drone sighting prompted Norway’s Oslo Airport to shut its airspace on the same    day.

Earlier on Monday (September 22), Copenhagen Airport said it closed airspace “due to two to
three unidentified drones”. Airport spokeswoman Lise Agerley Kurstein noted approximately 15 flights were diverted to other airports.Copenhagen Police added that “three or four big drones” were observed flying over the airport. “They are still flying back and forth, coming and going,”
duty officer Anette Ostenfeldt told AFP at 20:45 GMT, confirming police were on-site investigating. She could not confirm if the drones were military or civilian, but emphasized: “They are bigger
than what you as a private individual can buy.”
Oslo Airport also shut its airspace from midnight local time (2200 GMT) due to a drone sighting,    according to a statement from Norwegian airport operator Avinor. All flights were diverted to the nearest airports.

Context: Rising EU Airspace Violation Concerns

The drone incidents come as several European countries have reported recent airspace violations by Russia:
Estonia: On Friday, it stated three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered its airspace without permission.
Poland: The week prior, during a Russian air strike on Ukraine, approximately 19 Russian
drones entered Polish airspace. The Polish Air Force and NATO allies shot down some—     marking the first downing of Russian drones over NATO territory since Moscow’s full-scale 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Romania: It also registered a Russian drone in its airspace.

International Response

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) convened on Monday to address the airspace violations:
Russia’s UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy denied the MiG-31 violation claims, stating the     September flight was “strictly in accordance with international airspace regulations”. Russia’s Ministry of Defence echoed this, citing “objective monitoring” confirming no border breach.
NATO allies condemned Russia at the meeting. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper warned:
“Your reckless actions risk direct armed confrontation between NATO and Russia. Our
alliance is defensive, but be under no illusion—we stand ready to defend NATO’s skies and NATO’s territory.”
NATO’s North Atlantic Council is set to meet on Tuesday to further discuss the issue.
Police investigate at Copenhagen Airport after all traffic was closed due to drone reports in Copenhagen on September 22, 2025