Denmark Temporarily Closes Shipping Lane Over Missile Launch Risk

A technical error with a Harpoon missile on a Danish frigate has led to the closure of airspace and maritime traffic in the Great Belt Strait.

Denmark's military warns of potential accidental missile launch from a naval frigate, prompting closure of a key shipping lane in the Great Belt Strait.
The Harpoon missile's booster was activated during a test and cannot be deactivated, raising concerns over missile fragments falling into Danish waters.
Authorities have closed airspace and advised ships to avoid the danger area, estimated to be up to 5-7 kilometers from Naval Station Korsør.
Specialists are attempting to detonate the missile to prevent accidental launch; the missile itself is not armed and poses no explosion risk.
The incident reflects ongoing safety concerns, recalling a past accident in the 1980s when a Harpoon missile destroyed four homes on the island of Zeeland.