Flights diverted as Swedish airport closes airspace after drone sighting

LONDON

Air traffic has been suspended at Landvetter Airport, near Gothenburg in western Sweden, after reports of a suspicious drone flying in the area on Thursday evening.

According to broadcaster SVT, the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency said one or more drones were observed just before 6 pm local time, prompting officials to immediately close the airspace over the airport.

Several arriving flights have been diverted to other airports, including Copenhagen.

Police are on site and working with the Civil Aviation Administration and airport management to investigate.

“We are currently taking testimonies and trying to determine the possible presence of drones around the airport. Then we will see if the results of this can bring any clarity to what it could be,” said police spokesman Johan Hakansson.

Swedavia, which operates Sweden’s major airports, confirmed the incident.

“The airspace over Landvetter is currently closed due to an indication of a suspicious drone. The airspace is closed while the police investigate,” wrote Swedavia’s Chief Operating Officer Susanne Norman in a message to SVT.

Flights from Munich, Frankfurt and Stockholm have been redirected to other airports, such as Kastrup in Copenhagen.

All departures from Landvetter have been postponed or cancelled.