In brief
The police reopened their investigation at Copenhagen Airport after an email threat was received on Thursday. No suspicious materials were found on the planes, and passengers were deemed not in danger. Authorities are watching for connections to other similar threats across Europe.
On Friday, 6 November, Danish police returned to Copenhagen Airport to reopen an investigation that had closed after a holiday weekend. The reopening was triggered by a fresh email threat that was received by the airport’s security system on Thursday. The message, sent directly to the airport, singled out two aircraft by their registration numbers and claimed that they were in danger. Officials said the new threat prompted an immediate call to investigate the situation further.
The email did not identify the sender and was sent from an anonymous account. The threat included a schematic that indicated a potential sabotage device. It was addressed to the airport’s crisis management team and included a deadline for compliance. The airport spokesman, whose name was not disclosed in the statement, said the emphasis on two specific aircraft made the threat appear more targeted.
Copenhagen Airport had already dealt with an earlier threat over the weekend when authorities received a warning email on Saturday. On that day, bomb disposal specialists from the Royal Danish Air Force conducted a full de‑contamination and security sweep of the two planes, and the planes were cleared for departure. Neither the first nor the second threat had resulted in casualties or destruction because no physical device was found.
Danish police stated in their press release that the initial assessment concluded that passengers and other individuals present at the airport were not in danger. They also confirmed that no suspicious material was found on the aircraft after the search. The police highlighted that the threat had been reported quickly and that the airport’s security protocols had been activated immediately.
The Danish media outlet TV 2 reported that the threat sent on Thursday had been more detailed than the earlier alert. In particular, the new email named two aircraft by their registration numbers and implied a specific mechanism of attack. TV 2 added that police were still gathering facts regarding the origin of the threat and investigating whether there was a link to the earlier incident.
Bomb disposal specialists from the Danish Armed Forces inspected the aircraft on Thursday morning. Using metal detectors and other advanced scanning equipment, they examined the fuselage, engines, and cargo holds. The specialists came away with no evidence of tampering. The two planes were then cleared for maintenance and flight operations.
Police caution that it is too early to determine whether the incidents are connected. An initial comparison of the emails suggested differences in tone and technical details. Accordingly, investigators are not yet certain how the incidents are related, if at all. Danish security experts remain alert for possible coordination with other attacks across the continent.
The authorities noted that a comprehensive investigation is underway that includes an examination of the email system logs and the possibility of cyber‑infiltration. Network security specialists are also reviewing the threat for potential connections to previous incidents that have targeted aviation assets in Brussels, Paris, and Berlin. The close collaboration between Danish and European partners is aimed at quickly tracing the source.
Despite the renewed investigation, flight operations were not directly impacted. No flights were postponed or cancelled due to the threat. Airport staff and flight crews were informed of the situation, and passengers were instructed to follow standard security procedures. The police and airport officials reassured the public that courage and vigilance had prevented any harm.