Danish helicopter accused of violating Finnish airspace

Investigation underway after craft appeared in Finnish skies for reasons unknown

A Danish helicopter is suspected of violating Finnish airspace late on Wednesday.

Finnish border guards said that the craft “briefly entered” Finnish skies near the  town of Hanko in southwestern Finland.

“We do not know exactly why they were there,”said a spokesman for the Finnish Defence Ministry.

Busy above the Baltic
The area is currently hosting NATO’s international Baltops 2016 military exercises. Forces from Finland, Sweden, the US, the Netherlands, Italy,  Britain and Germany are taking part in the exercise, but Denmark is not participating in the Finnish leg of the exercises.

The Danish violation comes in the wake of Russian aircraft being accused of repeatedly breaching Finnish airspace above the Baltic Sea.

READ MORE: Denmark participating for the first time in the world’s largest naval exercise

The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, has expressed his disapproval of NATO’s activities in the Baltic at a meeting in Moscow.

Finland’s border guard has begun an investigation into the incident.

TOP STORIES

  • Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    Danish Intelligence Service: Threat from Russia has intensified

    In the internal Danish waters, Russia will be able to attack underwater infrastructure from all types of vessels. The target could be cables with data, electricity and gas, assesses the Danish Defense Intelligence Service

  • Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    Denmark to explore screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic sentiments

    A few weeks after Alex Vanopslagh’s comments about “right values,” the government announced that an expert committee would be established to examine the feasibility of screening citizenship applicants for anti-democratic attitudes.

  • The Future Copenhagen

    The Future Copenhagen

    The municipality plan encompasses building 40,000 houses by 2036 in order to help drive real estate prices down. But this is not the only huge project that will change the shape of the city: Lynetteholmen, M5 metro line, the Eastern Ring Road, and Jernbanebyen will transform Copenhagen into something different from what we know today

  • It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    It’s not you: winter depression is affecting many people

    Many people in Denmark are facing hard times marked by sadness, anxiety, and apathy. It’s called winter depression, and it’s a widespread phenomenon during the cold months in Nordic countries.

  • Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime rates are rising, but people are safer

    Crime in Denmark is increasing for the second consecutive year, but it is more focused on property, while people appear to be safer than before. Over the past year, there were fewer incidents of violence

  • Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Novo Nordisk invests 8.5 billion DKK in new Odense facility

    Despite Novo’s announcement that its growth abroad will be larger than in Denmark, the company announced this morning an 8.5 billion DKK investment for a new facility in Odense. This is the first time the company has established a new production site in Denmark this century.

Connect club

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.

Sign up here

Career

Want to advertise your job with CPH Post?

Contact us

Jobs