Denmark has shut down a crucial shipping lane due to a malfunctioning missile launcher on a Danish navy vessel, the country’s military announced Thursday.
The Niels Juel ship, stationed in Denmark’s Great Belt strait, encountered a problem during a routine test when the booster on a Harpoon missile was activated but couldn’t be deactivated. Specialists are en route to address the issue.
The activated booster poses a risk of the missile launching and traveling several kilometers away. The danger zone extends up to 5-7 kilometers from Naval Station Korsør, at a height of about 1000 meters above the water, southward from the Great Belt Bridge, according to military statements. However, the missile is not directed towards the bridge.
As a precaution, airspace in the area has been closed. Despite the potential danger, the military assures that only the booster is activated during the test, meaning there’s no risk of explosion or the missile traveling beyond the booster’s capacity.
Authorities have notified the police and the Danish maritime authority, with ships in the vicinity advised to wait until the situation is resolved.
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