Danish navy ship triggers airspace closure due to missile failure
COPENHAGEN — A missile failure on a Danish navy ship has led to the closure of airspace and shipping lanes near a major shipping strait off the Danish coast, causing concern for vessels in the area.
The National Maritime Authority warned of “falling missile fragments” in the Great Belt strait, prompting ships to drop anchor if necessary to avoid potential risks.
The incident occurred during a naval exercise that began in March and is expected to conclude on Friday, with the Danish military citing issues with the missile launcher that could not be deactivated.
The missile, launched from the Niels Juel frigate as part of Nato’s standing naval force, posed a danger to an area southwest of Korsor, near the Great Belt bridge, although traffic on the bridge remained unaffected.
Despite containing explosives, the missile was unarmed and not a threat if it crashed into the sea, according to the defence ministry.
This incident follows the dismissal of Gen Flemming Lentfer, the former chief of defence, for failing to report weapon systems malfunctions on another Danish frigate, the Iver Huitfeldt, during an encounter with Houthi militants in the Red Sea.
Denmark’s defence minister, Troels Lund Poulsen, expressed a loss of trust in Lentfer for not disclosing the radar and missile system failures during the Houthi drone attack, which aimed to support Palestinians amid conflicts in Gaza.
Fortunately, no harm came to the crew or the ship during the incident, highlighting the challenges faced by the Danish navy in recent times. — BBC
