A drone equipped with an explosive device was found at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany, one of Europe’s major freight hubs, prompting authorities to close both runways and divert multiple aircraft. The discovery occurred after airport personnel spotted a flying object near the facility shortly before midnight Tuesday. Anti-explosives personnel responded and removed the device’s detonator after locating the drone near the south runway.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt traveled to the airport to address the incident, characterizing it as representing a qualitatively different security threat. While drone sightings and related concerns have been documented previously, Dobrindt emphasized that the presence of explosives aboard an aircraft-sized unmanned system constituted an unprecedented scenario. He described the incident as consistent with what officials term a “hybrid attack,” though specific details regarding the nature of the explosives, the drone’s origin, and responsibility for the device remained under investigation.
Authorities also investigated evidence suggesting a second unmanned aircraft may have been involved. According to police and prosecutors, another flying object collided with a cargo airplane that had aborted its landing approach due to the closed runway. The aircraft diverted to Hannover Airport approximately 200 kilometers away, where inspectors documented minor structural damage. The north runway reopened within two hours, while the south runway remained closed for scheduled maintenance.
The incident occurred at a facility that serves as a regional logistics center, with Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft regularly present at the airport. Earlier in 2024, the same airport experienced an incendiary device incident at its logistics center that Western security officials attributed to Russian intelligence operations. NATO acknowledged awareness of the current incident while directing further inquiries to German authorities.
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