Drone at Norwegian Airport Forces Airliner to Divert, Widening “Hybrid” Threat

The systematic and widespread campaign of drone incursions targeting Northern European aviation has struck again, this time forcing a Norwegian passenger flight to divert from its destination at Brønnøysund Airport in northern Norway. The incident, which occurred early Monday, marks a significant geographical expansion of the crisis and demonstrates that the unknown aggressor continues to operate with impunity across the region.
According to a statement from Avinor, Norway’s state-owned airport operator, the airspace over Brønnøysund Airport (BNN) was temporarily closed after a drone was observed in the vicinity. A commercial flight, operated by the regional airline Widerøe, was on its approach to land when the alarm was raised. Following established safety protocols, the pilots aborted the landing and diverted to a nearby airport until the airspace was declared safe.
“We can confirm an observation of a drone in the airspace around Brønnøysund Airport,” an Avinor spokesperson said. “The airspace was closed for a period, which unfortunately had consequences for one flight. The police have been notified and are investigating.”
This latest disruption is a clear continuation of the “hybrid warfare” campaign that has placed NATO’s northern flank on high alert over the past week. It follows an identical pattern of targeting civilian aviation to cause disruption and probe national defenses. The crisis began with a series of incursions that repeatedly shut down airports in Denmark, followed by a near-miss with a passenger jet at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, and a tense standoff over a Swedish naval base. Just last night, the campaign returned its focus to Denmark, with drones spotted over several Danish army bases.
The targeting of Brønnøysund, a smaller regional airport, is nonetheless significant. It demonstrates a broad operational reach and an intent to sow chaos not just at major international hubs, but across the entire transportation network.
The persistent and widespread nature of these incursions prompted the U.S. Navy to deploy advanced P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft to Oslo over the weekend. The mission of these “spy planes” is to assist Norway and its allies in hunting for the drones and their operators. However, today’s incident shows that even with this enhanced surveillance, the elusive drones remain a potent threat.
NATO is treating the situation with extreme seriousness, viewing it as a coordinated campaign of aggression designed to destabilize the region. While no one has claimed responsibility, suspicion remains fixed on Russia, which has a well-documented history of employing such hybrid tactics. The ongoing drone flights serve as a constant, unnerving reminder of the new vulnerabilities facing Europe in an era of heightened geopolitical competition.