The Great Belt strait, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, has been closed due to the risk of falling missile fragments following a failed test. Denmark had to shut down part of its airspace and restrict naval exercises in the area after a navy vessel close to the Danish coast experienced a mandatory test where the missile launcher could not be deactivated.
The National Maritime Authority issued a warning to ships not to sail through the strait, which is the main maritime access to the Baltic Sea. The incident occurred during an ongoing naval exercise in the area, but it was unclear if there were any casualties or injuries.
The warning covered an area of 5-7 kilometers of the Great Belt bridge, which remained open to traffic. The missile was launched from the frigate Niels Juel, and specialists were deployed to investigate and resolve the issue. The police were also informed, and ships were asked to wait until everything was resolved before continuing with their journeys.
The missile failure only affected the booster, and there was no danger of it exploding. However, this incident raises concerns about safety measures taken by military personnel during testing activities that involve live ammunition. It is yet unclear how this specific failure occurred or what caused it, but further investigation is needed to ensure that similar incidents do not happen again in the future.
