Drone at German airport carried 'explosive device'

Police in Germany sounded the alarm overnight regarding a drone equipped with an explosive device at Leipzig-Halle Airport. This incident occurred just as a Ukrainian cargo plane was near the airport, and another aircraft collided with an unknown flying object mid-air before safely landing. The aviation hub, crucial for delivering military goods, was temporarily grounded for several hours following the alarm raised at midnight.

A police robot was deployed to extract the detonator from the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) discovered on the tarmac. The airport, also a key NATO base for Ukraine, houses an Antonov Airlines operation painted with Ukrainian symbols, referencing the Ukrainian region of Kherson targeted by Russian strikes.

Local news footage displayed the bomb disposal robot near the Ukrainian Antonov plane, hinting at suspicion of Russian involvement. Oleksii Makeiev, Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, expressed suspicion of Russian involvement, stating, "Who else could it be but Russia?" Despite this, authorities have yet to present definitive evidence of Russian involvement, and Moscow has not yet commented on the matter.

Initially, German police reported a "security-related incident" temporarily halted flights to the airport, also a significant DHL logistics center. Shortly before midnight, an unidentified flying object was spotted near the airport, prompting the diversion of several aircraft, including a passenger plane, to other locations. An object was also detected near the southern runway, initially examined by federal police, involving the deployment of an explosives disposal robot.

Police later confirmed the UAV was fitted with an improvised explosive and incendiary device, removing the detonator via a robot.

Bild reported a DHL cargo plane that aborted its landing post the alert, colliding with an unknown object mid-air approximately six kilometers away, sustaining minor nose damage. The aircraft landed safely at Hanover airport. Police affirmed a suspected second unidentified flying object collided with a cargo aircraft, causing minor damage that was discovered post-landing in Hanover.

Regular airport operations resumed in the early hours, resuming on the northern runway while investigators probed the southern runway for clues.

A counter-terrorism unit raced to locate the drone pilots, urgently seeking public information on suspicious sightings near the airport. Germany, a major supporter of Ukraine's military, suspects Russia of orchestrating many of these incidents as part of a campaign of sabotage, espionage, and disinformation. Such UAV sightings over sensitive sites like airports, military bases, and industrial plants have been frequent, often attributed to surveillance missions or intimidation efforts.

Germany and other European nations have reported repeated UAV sightings over critical facilities, though these have typically been perceived as surveillance or intimidation attempts. In July 2024, a parcel ignited at Leipzig airport, purportedly linked to a suspected Moscow-linked arson sabotage attempt, which Germany and other European countries attribute to Russia. Meanwhile, a Chinese national was convicted last year for passing flight schedule and cargo information to a Beijing spy at Leipzig-Halle airport.