Copenhagen bans drone flights for flag day events

Drone flights over Copenhagen are banned today because of Flag Day, which honours Danish personnel deployed abroad, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

Peter Dahl, head of emergency preparedness at Copenhagen Police, said public high-profile events will take place as part of the day’s observance. The drone ban has been introduced for security reasons, he said.

He compared the air restriction zone over Copenhagen with street closures used when public events involve high-profile guests.

The ban also covers small recreational drones. Flying a drone within the restriction zone is prohibited without written permission from police.

The restriction zone took effect at midnight and will remain in place until midnight tonight. Police say they are closely monitoring drone flights and have good opportunities to determine where recreational drones are being operated from.

This is not the first time Copenhagen has been placed under a drone ban, but it is the first time such a ban has been introduced on Flag Day.

Dahl said future high-profile public events could also lead to drone bans, citing the situation involving drones and the security situation in the world.