A hacker attack on large airports across Europe, followed by drones invasions in Copenhagen and Oslo, tests the weak spots of the area’s air infrastructure and increases fears of coordinated attacks that will lead to increased disorders.

Denmark, due to drones, were interrupted by flights to Copenhagen Airport on Monday for several hours, with Denmark Prime Minister Met Fredriksen linking the incident with a series of suspicious invasions of Russian unmanned aircraft across Europe, Reuters said.

This happened in parallel with a distinctive drone incident in the Norway’s capital, Oslo, and a few days after hacker attack on check-in airports, such as London’s Heathrow, Europe’s busiest, as well as in Berlin and Brussels.

Hybrid threat

Researchers have not yet identified who is hiding behind disorders, but experts consider them part of a series of recent “hybrid threats” in the region, in order to try how countries manage their critical infrastructure.

“First we have to try how the method works. In this case, it leads to the closure of the airports, “said Jukka Savolainen, a network manager at the European Center for Excellence to address hybrid threats. “The second test point is our reaction,” he added.

Russia’s ambassador to Denmark, Vladimir Barbin, said in a statement sent to Reuters that allegations of Russian involvement were unfounded. The Reuters was unable to confirm who was hiding behind the interruption of airports due to drones or violating the weekend security system.

However, disorders have shown how vulnerable the operations of the Civil Aviation sector can be, with a supply chain vacation affecting airports and airlines, leading to hundreds of delays and cancellations.

As the threats of the “hybrid war” increase, including drones, GPS interference and hackers, experts argue that aviation regulators must take precautionary measures to mitigate the risks of cyber security and navigation systems.

The airline industry is vulnerable

“This attack shows how vulnerable the high-degree industries can be, such as the aviation,” said Bart Salaets of the US cyber-security company F5, referring to the breach of Collins Aerospace check-in software on the weekend.

Analysts and experts with whom Reuters spoke have pointed out the increase in the activity of possible Russian actors across Europe in recent weeks as an incentive for regulators to offer clearer guidelines.

“Drones’ activity is deteriorating and, in my opinion, will not stop,” said Eric Schouten, director of Dyami Security and Aviation Counseling Services.

“Airlines look forward to governments and authorities on this issue, as well as airports,” he noted.

Moscow systematically denies any responsibility for any hybrid attack in Europe.

The European Air Traffic Control Agency said Eurocontrol said it provides support to local traffic control and national authorities to manage the impact of such incidents.

“Air carriers must be able to vigorously evaluate the dangers of their flights and develop plans to divert and address the risks,” Matthew Borie, Osprey Air Force Consultant Information Officer, told Reuters.

High Infrastructure Upgrade Cost

The cost of upgrading infrastructure could prevent airports from reacting rapidly, even if security issues in the political airspace gained more importance after Russia’s complete invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Upgrading technology to airports, such as interference tools, lasers and detectors, to mitigate the risks of violations and drones, can cost millions of dollars and be a cumbersome process – a process that not all infrastructure operators are available.

The IATA Airlines Agency also said that the technology against drones is still in the process of growth and often exceeds the budget of an airport. In the United States, FAA reports that it receives more than 100 reports of drones near airports each month.

Jake Moore, an ESET adviser to a Slovak cyber security company, said that when aviation supplies are being attacked, it creates global disorders.

“Regulators must further strengthen the standards for critical Aviation IT suppliers,” he said.