Airspace shut down and major shipping lane closed after failed missile launch
The Danish military have closed their airspace and shipping lanes after a missile failure from a naval ship.
The National Maritime Authority has issued a warning due to danger of ‘falling missile fragments’ after the failed launch near the busy Great Belt Bridge.
The Norwegian Defence Ministry said the missile contained 150kg of explosives – but it is not armed and will not detonate if it crashes.
In a statement, the military said: ‘Specialists are on their way to solve the problem. Until the booster is disabled, there is a risk that the missile could launch and fly several kilometers away.
‘The police and the Danish Maritime Authority are informed, and ships in the direction of the danger zone are notified and asked to wait for the problem to be resolved. The air space in the area is also closed.’
The warning also covers the town of Korsor, which crosses the strait.
Ships have been urged to drop anchor.
Flight Radar appears to show limited planes in the air space surrounding the region affected.
The Great Belt Strait is one of the busiest waterways in the world, connecting the North Sea and Baltic Sea.
The shipping route dates back to the Roman Empire, with historian Tactacus describing it as a ‘sizeable brackish sea to the far north’.
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