Stockholm’s Arlanda International Airport was temporarily shut down overnight on Sunday after four drones were spotted in its airspace, prompting Swedish authorities to halt air traffic for nearly two hours. The Swedish Civil Aviation Administration made the decision to suspend takeoffs and landings between 1 a.m. and 3:40 a.m. local time, citing safety concerns.
Police have launched an investigation into potential airport sabotage, suspecting the incident was a deliberate act, though no motive has been identified. The drones, described as varying in size, were first detected by air traffic control, and helicopters were deployed to track them. Five flights were affected during the closure, either delayed or rerouted to other airports.
The incident comes amid increased concerns over security threats in Sweden, which joined NATO in March 2023 following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. While there is no immediate evidence linking the drones to foreign actors, Swedish authorities are cooperating with multiple agencies, including the Armed Forces, as part of the ongoing investigation.
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