OSLO – A spate of unexplained drone sightings across Norway has triggered a nationwide investigation, grounding flights and putting critical infrastructure on high alert, reprots NRK. The incidents, occurring from the southern coast to the far north, have led defense experts to suggest a coordinated campaign, with mounting speculation pointing towards potential Russian involvement.
The unusual activity escalated dramatically late Sunday when a Norwegian flight from Oslo to Bardufoss was forced to turn back due to drone observations in the Troms and Finnmark regions. Earlier the same day, similar sightings were reported 800 kilometers further south in Brønnøysund, Nordland. These followed earlier reports on Saturday of drones near the Ørland Main Air Station in Trøndelag, a key military installation.
Police in affected areas have launched investigations, working in conjunction with Norway’s Police Security Service (PST) and the armed forces. “Observations of possible drones were made within the no-fly zone and therefore constitute a criminal offense,” stated police attorney Torbjørn Sandbu of Nordland. While no suspects have been identified, authorities assure the public that these incidents are being taken seriously.
Lars Peder Haga, an associate professor at the Norwegian Air Force Academy and an expert on Russian air and military power, suggests the incidents could be part of a “campaign against Norway.” He noted that the pattern, particularly the lack of any group claiming responsibility, is “striking.”
“It’s easy to understand that it’s close to pointing at Russia, which has a message that is always there – that we should keep our hands off Ukraine,” Haga remarked, drawing parallels to similar unexplained drone observations recently reported in Denmark.
Defense Minister Tore O. Sandvik, speaking at the Warsaw Security Forum, confirmed that the drones under investigation are “surveillance drones,” not attack drones. “We must remember, we are not at war. We are not under attack, and these are surveillance drones, not Shahed drones,” Sandvik emphasized, while acknowledging the seriousness of the disruptions to air traffic.
Despite the heightened alert, authorities are urging calm. Haga stressed that while it’s understandable for people to be frightened, the immediate and low-threshold response of rerouting flights demonstrates a commitment to safety. “If we let this control too much of our daily lives, then those behind it have won, and I don’t think we should let them do that,” he added.
Local officials, such as Martin Nymo, Mayor of Målselv municipality where Bardufoss airport is located, are taking the situation extremely seriously. “These are scary times. We have had drone activity in this area before. Now it seems this is a coordinated action that we must take with the utmost seriousness,” Nymo stated.
Police have established a dedicated tip line for drone observations, thanking vigilant citizens for their reports. However, authorities also caution against false alarms, noting that increased media attention often leads to a surge in reported sightings that later turn out to be natural phenomena or conventional aircraft.
Anders Martinsen, CEO of UAS Norway, the drone industry’s interest organization, also emphasized that the vast majority of drones in Norwegian airspace are used for legitimate and beneficial purposes. “We must not create the impression that drones people observe in the sky are threatening and are not performing socially useful tasks that happen every single day across the country,” Martinsen said.
As investigations continue with support from national security agencies, Norway remains vigilant, balancing the need for heightened security with a call for calm amidst the unsettling aerial mystery.
