In brief
A drone containing an explosive device was discovered near Ukrainian cargo planes at Leipzig/Halle airport. The device was removed safely by a robot after German authorities confirmed a series of unauthorized drone flights over sensitive sites, raising concerns about possible Russian involvement. The incident caused runway disruptions and heightened security alerts. Ukrainian ambassador and German officials have linked potential terrorism to Russia, though Moscow has denied involvement.
A drone carrying an explosive device was discovered at Leipzig/Halle airport.
A police robot was deployed overnight after the device was spotted near Ukrainian cargo planes by an employee. The drone’s explosive was removed safely by a robot.
Earlier, a second unidentified object collided with a cargo aircraft near the same airport, causing minor damage when it landed in Hanover.
German authorities have flagged a rise in unauthorised drone flights over sensitive sites, including military bases, airports, energy terminals, seaports, and logistics companies.
Federal police warned the overflights could have been organised by Russian agents. German airports remain on high alert.
Leipzig/Halle is used by the German military and NATO allies for transporting military goods, and serves as a base for Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines.
Flights on the northern runway resumed at 01:55 local time; the southern runway, a major DHL hub, remains closed.
Interior Minister Armin Schuster called the incident a “very serious security incident.”
Ukraine’s ambassador Oleksii Makeiev suggested Russia might be behind the attacks, while Russia has not commented.
In July 2024, a parcel at Leipzig airport burst into flames before loading onto a DHL plane, part of a series of parcel fires in the UK and EU. Authorities say the parcels contained explosives hidden in massage pillows. Russia denied involvement.
Last year a Chinese woman was convicted of passing flight schedule information to a spy for Beijing.
