Aalborg Airport has resumed operations after a temporary airspace closure that disrupted flights and stranded passengers. Air navigation service provider Naviair made the decision to reopen the airport at 11 PM Sunday night after closing the airspace earlier in the evening.
The closure began around 10:10 PM, with airport officials confirming the shutdown without providing specific details about the cause. Kim Bermann, the airport's operations director, stated he had been notified about "some kind of activity" that authorities were uncomfortable with but couldn't confirm the exact nature.
This marks the second such incident at Aalborg Airport in recent weeks. On September 24, the airport experienced a similar closure lasting several hours due to reported drone activity. That incident occurred just two days after Copenhagen Airport faced comparable disruptions.
Northern Jutland Police confirmed they were intensively investigating the area around the airport. In a social media statement, police indicated they were aware of possible drone sightings near the airport but couldn't confirm the reports. Authorities emphasized they take illegal drone activity seriously and urged citizens to report any unauthorized drone flights.
The closure caused significant travel disruptions. A KLM flight from Amsterdam, originally scheduled to land at 10:30 PM, was forced to circle over Vesthimmerland before being redirected to Billund Airport where it landed after 11 PM. A Norwegian flight that should have arrived at 10:15 PM remained grounded in Copenhagen, with passengers still onboard past 11:25 PM.
Passengers on affected flights expressed frustration with the unexpected delays. One passenger aboard the Norwegian flight reported the pilot informed them of a potential departure at midnight. Jonas Obel, a passenger on a canceled SAS flight, shared that airline staff told him drone activity caused their delay. He and a friend now face an unexpected overnight stay in Copenhagen instead of returning home to Aalborg as planned.
The repeated airport closures highlight growing concerns about drone interference with aviation infrastructure across Denmark. Such incidents pose serious safety risks and demonstrate vulnerabilities in critical transportation systems. Airport authorities face increasing pressure to develop more effective detection and prevention measures against unauthorized drone operations near aviation facilities.
These disruptions come amid broader European efforts to address drone security challenges. Many airports have implemented anti-drone technology, but the effectiveness varies. The financial impact on airlines and passenger inconvenience adds urgency to finding reliable solutions.
For international travelers, these incidents serve as a reminder of potential disruptions when flying through Danish airports. The frequency of such closures suggests this remains an ongoing security challenge rather than an isolated problem.