Authorities at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany discovered a drone equipped with an explosive device near the south runway late Tuesday, according to officials. The discovery led to the closure of both runways at the major freight hub and the diversion of several flights, including at least one passenger aircraft, to alternative airports. An airport employee located the drone, which was subsequently examined by police, who removed its detonator.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt characterized the incident as representing an escalation in security threats, noting that while drone sightings and drone-related incidents have occurred previously, the presence of explosives on an aircraft-capable device at an airport constituted an unprecedented threat scenario. He described the event as a “hybrid attack scenario” but declined to provide additional details regarding the composition of the explosive device, the drone’s origin, or potential responsibility for the incident, citing the ongoing investigation.
Authorities also reported evidence of a possible second drone in the vicinity of the airport. According to police and prosecutors, an apparent second flying object collided with a freight aircraft that was aborting its landing due to the runway closure. The aircraft proceeded to Hannover Airport approximately 200 kilometers away, where inspectors identified minor damage upon arrival. The north runway resumed operations after roughly two hours, while the south runway was scheduled to remain closed for planned maintenance.
The incident occurred at a facility that functions as a leading European cargo hub and regularly handles Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft. NATO acknowledged awareness of the incident but directed further inquiries to German authorities. The discovery follows a 2024 incident at the same airport in which an incendiary device activated at a logistics center, damaging a freight container. Western security officials have attributed various attacks and incidents across Europe in recent years to Russian and Russian-aligned actors in connection with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI