European Countries Suspect Russian Involvement
Circumstances of the Incident Remain Unconfirmed
Recently, unidentified drones have been repeatedly appearing over European airspace, including airports, prompting heightened alertness from various countries. Amid these incidents, another unidentified drone appeared over Danish airspace, leading to the temporary closure of Aalborg Airport. On September 25, Yonhap News, citing foreign media, reported that on the 22nd, airport operations were suspended at both Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, and Oslo, the capital of Norway. This occurred just two days after a previous temporary suspension due to drone sightings. The details of the incident have not yet been confirmed. However, as security concerns rise following recent unauthorized incursions by Russian fighter jets and drones into European airspace, the repeated appearance of drones has further heightened tensions across Europe.
Recently, unidentified drones have been appearing repeatedly over European airspace, including airports, prompting heightened alertness from various countries. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay
According to Reuters and other foreign media, Eurocontrol, the European air traffic monitoring agency, announced that all departures and arrivals at Aalborg Airport would be suspended until 4 a.m. GMT on the 25th due to drone activity. An Aalborg Airport spokesperson also confirmed that airport operations were temporarily halted because of the appearance of a drone in the airspace. Although the spokesperson declined to specify the number of drones, he explained that a total of four flights were affected: two flights operated by Scandinavian Airlines, and one each by Norwegian Air and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Danish police stated that they were dispatched to the scene and are investigating the incident. Police also reported that even after the investigation began, drones continued to be spotted over Aalborg Airport, flying with their lights on.
Notably, reports of drone activity have also been received from areas other than Aalborg Airport, and since the airport also serves as a military base, the Danish military has confirmed that it has been affected as well. Danish police have not yet identified the purpose or operator of the drones, nor have they confirmed whether these are the same drones observed in Copenhagen on the 22nd. However, they noted that the drones exhibited a similar pattern to those seen in Copenhagen and stated that there were no threats to residents near the airport or to the airport itself.
Heightened Tensions in Europe Amid Repeated Drone Incursions
Europe has been on high alert due to the recent series of drone incursions. On the night of September 9th to 10th, Poland shot down several Russian-made drones that had violated its airspace. Just four days later, on the 14th, Romania scrambled F-16 fighter jets to monitor a Russian drone that had entered its airspace. On the 19th, three Russian fighter jets entered Estonian airspace, a NATO member state that does not possess its own fighter jets. Against this backdrop, the closures of Copenhagen and Oslo airports on the 22nd due to drone activity have led many European countries to suspect Russian involvement.
On the 22nd, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen publicly described it as a "serious attack on critical infrastructure" and stated that "there is a possibility that Russia is responsible." Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News.
On the 22nd, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen publicly described the incident as a "serious attack on critical infrastructure" and stated that "there is a possibility that Russia is responsible." Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide commented on the incidents in Copenhagen and Oslo, stating that the two countries are closely cooperating, but have not yet confirmed any connection between the two cases. Minister Eide said, "So far, we have not been able to establish a link between the two incidents or connect them to any specific country," but added, "Most people would consider it possible that two similar incidents occurring simultaneously may be related."
Above all, this incident occurred amid growing concerns about the vulnerability of major European transportation networks to drones and cyberattacks. On the 19th, check-in and boarding systems at London Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom, Berlin Airport in Germany, and Brussels Airport in Belgium were paralyzed by a cyberattack. The disruption continued until the 22nd, causing severe chaos in flight operations across Europe.
Runway Closed at Jeju Airport in Korea After Drone Detection
Another incident occurred at Jeju International Airport in Korea, where a runway was closed after a drone was detected. At 9:28 a.m., the Jeju Airport Operations Center detected an unidentified drone. The drone was detected near the western perimeter fence of the airport, but the actual device was not found. Upon detection of the unidentified drone, Jeju Airport closed the runway for eight minutes and resumed operations at approximately 9:36 a.m.
A Jeju Airport official stated, "We have a system in place to respond strongly even if only drone signals are detected within 400 meters of the airport fence," adding, "Although the drone was powered on, it may not have actually flown." Previously, on the night of the 11th, a drone was detected around the airport, resulting in a seven-minute suspension of aircraft takeoffs and landings. At that time, the drone was also detected near the western perimeter fence and was retrieved before it could take off. Jeju Airport, classified as a 'Class A' national security facility, prohibits drone flights within a 9.3-kilometer radius.
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