Explosive Drone Found at Germany's Leipzig–Halle Airport, Suspicion Falls on Russia

 

Kathmandu, Aug. 6 — An explosive-laden drone was discovered near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Germany's Leipzig–Halle Airport, raising major security concerns. During the incident, another aircraft reportedly struck an unidentified object while taking off but managed to land safely, according to German authorities.

Following the discovery, all incoming flights to Leipzig–Halle Airport were diverted to other airports for several hours. German police, assisted by a bomb disposal unit, safely neutralized the explosive device attached to the drone.

Located in eastern Germany, Leipzig–Halle Airport serves as a key logistics hub for the German military, NATO, and Ukraine's Antonov Airlines. Footage released by local media showed a bomb disposal robot operating near an Antonov cargo aircraft.

Ukraine's Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, suggested that Russia could be behind the incident, asking, "Who else could it be besides Russia?" However, German authorities have not presented any evidence linking Russia directly to the case, and Moscow has not issued an immediate response.

Police said an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was spotted near the airport shortly after midnight, prompting the diversion of several flights. A suspicious object was later found on the southern runway, leading investigators to deploy a bomb disposal robot, which successfully removed the detonator from the drone.

According to German media reports, the four-rotor drone was fitted with an Improvised Explosive and Incendiary Device (IEID). A DHL cargo aircraft that reportedly collided with an unidentified object was later diverted and landed safely at Hanover Airport, sustaining only minor damage to its nose section.

Airport operations resumed on Wednesday morning, although only the northern runway remains in use while investigators continue collecting evidence from the southern runway. Germany's counterterrorism unit has launched an investigation to identify those responsible for operating the drone.

Since the start of the Russia–Ukraine war, suspicious drone sightings near airports, military bases, and industrial facilities across Germany and other European countries have become increasingly common. German officials have frequently linked such incidents to suspected Russian sabotage and espionage activities, allegations that Russia continues to deny.

The incident follows a similar security concern in July 2024, when a parcel caught fire before being loaded onto a DHL cargo aircraft at Leipzig Airport. Last year, a Chinese national was also convicted for supplying sensitive information related to flight schedules and cargo operations to an individual accused of spying for China.