Drones stop flights at second Danish airport in a week
Listen to the story (Irish accent)
An airport in Aalborg, Denmark, had to close because of drones on Wednesday night. This was just two days after Denmark’s main airport in Copenhagen was also closed because people saw drones there.
Some people in Europe are worried about safety.
Danish police said the drones in Aalborg seemed similar to the ones that stopped flights at the Copenhagen airport for four hours.
Denmark said on Tuesday that the event at Copenhagen airport was the most serious attack on its infrastructure. Denmark has connected this event to other drone problems and security issues across Europe. Some people think Russia might be involved with the drones.
The Aalborg airport is also used by the Danish military. The military is helping the police with their investigation.
Norway had a similar problem on Monday. The airport in Oslo had to close its airspace for three hours after someone saw a drone.
A leader from the European Union said the drones that stopped flights in Copenhagen are part of a larger pattern of events at Europe's borders. However, Russia's ambassador to Denmark said on Tuesday that it is wrong to think that Russia is involved.
Police near Aalborg, said they saw "more than one drone" flying with lights on. The drones were first seen around 9:44 p.m. on Wednesday and stayed in the area until 12:54 a.m. on Thursday. Police tried to stop the drones but were not successful.
The police also said people saw drones near other airports in Denmark, including at a military base for fighter jets.
Vocabulary26 words
- Drone
- an aircraft/vehicle that does not have a pilot/driver but is controlled by someone far away/remotely
- Main
- the most important or the biggest;
- Worried
- Feeling nervous or concerned; having a feeling that something bad happened or will happen
- Danish
- related to or from the country Denmark 🇩🇰
- Seem
- to look; to appear to be; it looks like;
- Similar
- almost the same; alike
- Flight
- a trip on a plane; travel by airplane; a journey/trip made by an airplane
- Event
- Something that happens; affair; matter
- Attack
- To use force to harm or damage something or someone; When someone tries to hurt or harm
- Infrastructure
- equipment and structures for a city or society (roads, railroads, bridges, power plants, airports, etc.)
- Connect
- To join or link things together
- Security issue
- A problem that makes a place or people unsafe
- Across
- From one side to the other; in many places; around
- Involve
- to be a part of; to take part in; to engage with; to participate in
- Military
- armed forces; army; agency or department of a government for combat/war
- Investigation
- the action of examining/studying something carefully to learn the truth about it; a thorough search for facts; study; analysis
- Airspace
- the sky or area above land that a country controls
- Leader
- someone who is in charge of a group, organization or country; a boss or manager; a person who guides, directs, or commands a group
- The European Union (EU)
- 27 countries in Europe that work closely together
- Pattern
- the way that something happens again and again; when something that happens is similar to other things that happen, and continue to happen
- Border
- the line that separates two countries; the line where two countries meet; the edge or outside part of an area
- Ambassador
- an official representative for his or her country, that lives in a foreign country; envoy; diplomat
- Successful
- Achieving what you wanted; having the effect or result you intended; to do correctly or finish something you wanted to do
- Include
- to contain; incorporate; to be part of; to have something smaller as a part of it; come with
- Base
- a place that is the center of operations; camp; headquarters; site; center
- Fighter jet
- an airplane with a powerful “jet” engine for combat/war
Quiz
Answer key
1. Four hours 2. Norway 3. False
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
An _____ in Aalborg, Denmark, had to close _____ of drones on Wednesday night. This was just _____ days after Denmark’s main airport in Copenhagen _____ also closed because people saw drones there.
_____ people in Europe are worried about safety.
Danish _____ said the drones in Aalborg seemed _____ to the ones that stopped flights at the Copenhagen airport for _____ hours.
Denmark said on Tuesday _____ the event at Copenhagen airport was the most serious _____ on its infrastructure. Denmark has _____ this event to other drone problems and security issues _____ Europe. Some people think Russia _____ be involved with the drones.
_____ Aalborg airport is also used by the Danish military. The _____ is helping the police with their investigation.
Norway _____ a similar problem on Monday. The _____ in Oslo had to close its airspace for three hours after someone _____ a drone.
A leader from the European _____ said the drones that stopped flights in Copenhagen are _____ of a larger pattern of events at Europe's borders. _____ , Russia's ambassador to Denmark said on Tuesday that it is wrong to think that _____ is involved.
Police near Aalborg, _____ they saw "more than one drone" flying with lights on. The _____ were first seen around 9:44 p.m. on Wednesday and stayed in the _____ until 12:54 a.m. on Thursday. Police tried to stop the drones but were _____ successful.
The police also said _____ saw drones near other airports in Denmark, _____ at a military base for fighter jets.
Discussion questions
- Do you think it's easy for a person to control a drone and cause problems near an airport? Why or why not?
- The text says the event was "the most serious attack" on infrastructure in Denmark. How would you feel if an important system in your city was attacked?
- Why do you think airports are important to a country? What would happen if all airports closed for one week?
- Do you think there should be stricter rules or laws about where people can fly drones? Explain your answer.
- If you were a police officer, what would be the best way to catch the person flying the drone?
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