Drone sightings disrupt flights in Norway and Denmark for the fourth time in a week

Several flights in Norway were diverted on Sunday evening after drones were spotted in Norwegian airspace. A Norwegian Boeing 737-800 (registered LN-ENM) en route from Oslo to Bardufoss Airport in northern Norway was forced to turn back, and the airport was temporarily closed, airport operator Avinor confirmed.

Earlier that day, another flight bound for Brønnøysund had to divert after drone activity was reported in the area. The aircraft, flying from Bodø to Trondheim, circled for some time before being redirected to another airport.

This marks the fourth incident in just one week involving drone sightings over Norway and Denmark. Last Monday, Oslo Gardermoen Airport and Copenhagen Kastrup Airport were closed for several hours due to drone activity. On Wednesday, Aalborg Airport in Denmark was affected, and again during the night of Thursday into Friday. Over the weekend, drones were also reported near several Danish military bases.

In response, Norway tightened drone regulations on Saturday around four airports in Nordland county, following earlier sightings near Ørland Airport, south of Trondheim.

Danish authorities have not ruled out possible Russian involvement, though Moscow denies any connection. Ahead of this week’s European Council summit in Copenhagen (2–3 October), Denmark will impose a nationwide ban on civilian drone flights. Security measures will be reinforced with assistance from the German military, while NATO has announced increased vigilance in the Baltic region.