Denmark Reports Over 500 Mysterious Drone Sightings in European Airspace Crisis

Denmark experienced an unprecedented wave of over 500 unidentified drone sightings in just 24 hours, marking what officials are calling the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date. According to Danish authorities, these incidents forced the closure of multiple airports across Scandinavia and affected military installations, prompting emergency meetings at the highest levels of European defense.

The Danish Defense Minister held an emergency press conference where he admitted these incidents were the work of what he described as a “professional actor conducting systematic operations.” However, when pressed for details about this professional actor, he provided none, offering only an acknowledgment that they are dealing with capabilities beyond their understanding. As noted in the Sky News reporting, Danish officials have raised the country’s alert level and are beginning to look at acquiring new capabilities to detect and neutralize drones, with the justice minister stating that “the threat of hybrid attacks is here to stay.”

The crisis began on September 23rd when Copenhagen Airport, one of Scandinavia’s busiest transportation hubs, shut down for nearly four hours after two to three large unidentified objects were spotted. Authorities state that these were large objects with flight patterns that did not match standard drone profiles. Oslo Airport was simultaneously disrupted for three hours due to separate sightings, creating coordinated disruption across two major international airports in different countries.

What makes these incidents particularly puzzling, Per official responses, is the decision not to engage these objects. The Danish Defense Chief explained that “when you shoot something down in the air, something comes down again,” but experienced military officials typically know how to safely engage aerial targets. As mentioned by journalist Ross Coulthart, attempts to bring down similar objects using counter-UAS technology have failed, with high-pulse microwave systems designed specifically to disable drones proving ineffective against these objects.

Coulthart dismissed conventional explanations, stating his view that “we’re being fed nonsense” and that there is “absolutely no evidence at all to suggest that this is Russia, China, or any other country in the world.” He referenced President Trump’s acknowledgment that authorities “don’t know where it came from” and questioned why any foreign adversary would deploy highly sensitive, advanced technology over civilian airspace in Denmark. According to Coulthart, these objects demonstrate capabilities that exceed known drone technology, including stealth characteristics and immunity to conventional countermeasures.

Drone sightings reported in Scandinavia

The European response reveals the seriousness of these incidents. According to reports, defense ministers from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Finland, Romania, Denmark, and Bulgaria met on September 26th to discuss the “Drone Wall Initiative,” representing a 6 billion euro investment in detection and defense technologies specifically designed to counter aerial threats that conventional systems cannot handle effectively.

Russian ships were spotted off the Danish coast with transponders turned off, but Russia denies all involvement, calling the incidents “staged provocations.” The Danish Prime Minister called Monday’s airport disruptions the most serious attack on Danish critical infrastructure to date, yet authorities remain unable to definitively identify who was behind the coordinated operations.

These objects demonstrate flight patterns, coordination capabilities, and apparent immunity to conventional countermeasures that officials describe as “professional and systematic,” but cannot attribute to any known actor. The incidents have left European military and intelligence professionals publicly admitting they cannot identify, predict, or effectively counter objects operating with apparent impunity in NATO airspace, raising fundamental questions about the nature of what European authorities are encountering in their skies.

Drone sightings in Scandinavia

Sources

Garfinkel, I., & Adjei-Darko, K. (2025, September 26). FIVE HUNDRED drone sightings are reported in Denmark as Scandinavia battles to contain “Russian incursions.” Mail Online. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15136869/FIVE-drone-sightings-reported-Denmark-Scandinavia-battles-contain-Russian-incursions.html

Irish, J. (2025, September 24). No link yet between Oslo, Copenhagen drone incidents, Norway says. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/no-link-yet-between-oslo-copenhagen-drone-incidents-norway-says-2025-09-24/

Kirby, P. (2025, September 26). Drone attacks leave Denmark exposed — and searching for response. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g96gvql99o

Ott, H. (2025, September 25). Denmark calls drones near airports a “hybrid attack” as Norway police seize drone and Russia pleads ignorance. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/denmark-drones-hybrid-attack-russia-pleads-ignorance/

Police monitor drone activity near critical sites across Finland. (2025, September 26). Helsinki Times. https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/finland/finland-news/domestic/28019-police-monitor-drone-activity-near-critical-sites-across-finland.html

Sky News. (2025, September 25). “Professional actor” behind drones over Aalborg Airport in Denmark [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YWvKuMgGjQ

UFORKLARLIGT, unexplainable. (2025, September 25). What is flying over Denmark? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkskvIcXrQg

ZeroFox. (2025, September 25). Flash Report: Drone sightings disrupt airport operations in Europe | ZeroFox. https://www.zerofox.com/intelligence/flash-report-drone-sightings-disrupt-airport-operations-in-europe/