Mystery in Copenhagen: No evidence of drones after nine-month investigation into the airport shutdown

Nearly nine months after a series of incidents led to the temporary closure of Copenhagen airport and sparked serious concerns within NATO, Danish police announced they had found no evidence to confirm the presence of drones as the cause of the disruptions.

On September 22, 2025, operations at Copenhagen Airport were suspended after flying objects were reported in its airspace. In the following days, the Danish Air Force's main fighter base, as well as several other airports across the country, also suspended operations following similar sightings.

At a press conference, Chief Inspector Soren Thomassen stated that investigators were unable to confirm that the observed objects were drones. However, he clarified that this possibility could not be completely ruled out. No suspects have been identified, and the investigation has now been closed.

At the time, these incidents were considered potentially linked to a hybrid warfare campaign targeting critical infrastructure in the Nordic and Baltic region. The events fueled concerns among NATO member countries about the increasing threats to strategic installations.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen described the events as the most serious hybrid attack ever directed against Denmark's critical infrastructure. However, she refrained from naming a specific perpetrator.

At the time, Russia denied any involvement. Moscow regularly denies Western accusations linking it to sabotage operations, cyberattacks, or drone activities in Europe since the start of the war in Ukraine.

The conclusion of the investigation therefore leaves many questions unanswered. While the Danish authorities have no evidence to confirm the presence of drones, they have also failed to identify the exact origin of the objects observed or the circumstances that led to the closure of several sensitive infrastructures in the country.