Helsinki Airport resumed normal flight operations on Friday after suspending air traffic for three hours due to a drone warning, officials said.
The airport suspended air traffic from 4:00 am to 7:00 am (0100 to 0400 GMT) after safety authorities issued a danger alert for the southern Uusimaa region over a potential drone in the area.
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said defence forces intensified surveillance before confirming on X that the "danger in Uusimaa is over", without providing additional information.
"Although flights are operating again, the disruption will cause delays and cancellations on Friday, May 15. Morning delays may also affect departing and arriving flights later in the afternoon," Helsinki Airport said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Finnish authorities spotted a possible drone in the country’s airspace over the southern Uusimaa region.
"A danger alert has been issued for Uusimaa regarding drones. Official measures are underway. The Defence Forces have intensified their surveillance and counter-capabilities," Orpo posted initially on X.
Orpo's statement came after the Helsinki City Rescue Department announced on X that "a potentially dangerous unmanned aerial vehicle" may be moving in the airspace. It urged people to stay indoors "until the end of the hazard situation is announced."
Defence forces reportedly reaffirmed that they immediately enhanced their surveillance and response capabilities after receiving the information, underlining that the expected target area would be between Helsinki and Porvoo.
They said, however, that Finland is currently not facing a direct military threat.
After the start of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, Finland applied for and received NATO membership in April 2023.
At 1,343 kilometres (834 miles), Finland has the longest border of any NATO member state with Russia.
Its other borders are with fellow NATO countries Norway and Sweden.
