Breaking: Foreign Drones Spotted Over Oslo‘s Heart; Two Suspects Detained
In an alert issued last evening, a police patrol in Oslo’s city center noticed a mysterious drone in operation. Swiftly, the patrol located and apprehended two drone pilots near the Holmenkollen Ski Jump. The suspects, aged 18 and 19, are Chinese nationals, as confirmed by Oslo Police Inspector Gard Busterud to Dagbladet.
Both suspects are currently in custody at Oslo’s central prison. However, they have not yet been interrogated, and details of their drone operation or duration of stay in Norway remain unknown.
The pair was caught violating restricted airspace R102, which encompasses a significant portion of Oslo’s city center, including the Royal Palace, Stortinget, the government quarter, and the prime minister’s office, among other key institutions.
Non-Schengen foreigners found operating drones in restricted zones risk being expelled from Norway and other Schengen countries. Although permits can be obtained for drone flights in these zones, the purpose must be socially beneficial.
Last year alone, from autumn 2022 to spring 2023, Norway’s Civil Aviation Authority reports that between 30 and 40 individuals were deported for illegally operating drones. This incident underscores the gravity of drone safety and regulation in sensitive areas.
