Danish state broadcaster TV2 reports that three vessels are suspected of launching the large drones that shut down Copenhagen Airport, forcing 150 flights to be cancelled or diverted last night.
The investigation into the unprecedented drone assault on Copenhagen Airport has identified three suspicious vessels that were positioned in strategic locations during the Monday night incident that paralyzed one of Northern Europe’s busiest aviation hubs.
Sanctioned Russian Cargo Ship Under Scrutiny
The sanctioned Russian cargo ship Astrol 1 sailed through the Øresund Strait on Monday and made several irregular maneuvers, according to Danish television reports. The vessel’s unusual behavior during the precise timeframe of the drone attacks has placed it at the center of the international investigation.
The Astrol 1’s movements through the narrow waterway separating Denmark and Sweden coincided with the appearance of multiple large drones over Kastrup Airport, suggesting potential coordination between maritime and aerial operations.
Sanctioned Oil Tanker Monitored by NATO
The tanker Pushpa, sailing under the flag of Benin and sanctioned for transporting Russian oil, is another vessel considered suspicious by investigators. The ship was monitored for four hours by a German NATO warship, indicating the serious security concerns surrounding its presence during the drone incident.
The NATO monitoring of the Pushpa demonstrates the military significance authorities are attributing to the vessel’s proximity to the drone operations, with allied naval forces taking direct surveillance action.
Norwegian Ship with Russian Connections
The Norwegian cargo ship Oslo Carrier 3 was positioned just 7 kilometers from Kastrup Airport while the drones were being pursued by authorities. Several Russian-speaking crew members are among the ship’s personnel, and the vessel’s owner maintains offices in Kaliningrad, Russia.
The ship’s proximity to the airport during the active drone pursuit, combined with its Russian connections, has made it a key focus of the expanding international investigation.
Massive Aviation Disruption
The drone attack on Copenhagen Airport resulted in approximately 150 flights being cancelled or diverted, representing one of the most significant aviation security incidents in Scandinavian history. The scale of the disruption underscores the effectiveness of the coordinated assault on critical infrastructure.
Kastrup Airport, which handles nearly 30 million passengers annually, was forced into complete shutdown mode as authorities responded to multiple large drones operating in controlled airspace around the facility.
