Incident details
A drone carrying explosives was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany near a Ukrainian cargo plane that was loaded with military ammunition, according to a confidential police report cited by German media. The aircraft, operated by Antonov Airlines, had reportedly transported the ammunition from France shortly before the incident and was intended for onward transport. The drone was found hovering near the ground between two Antonov An-124 cargo airplanes, among the world's largest freighters.[S1][S2][S4]
The device, which had a roughly fist-sized package of explosives attached, failed to detonate because of an apparent technical malfunction, possibly a ripped detonator. Forensic experts determined the explosive was likely Semtex, a military-grade plastic explosive. An airport employee discovered the drone shortly before midnight on Tuesday, and a bomb-disposal robot was deployed to remove the detonator. The drone had not been detected by the airport's sensor system, and investigators believe it may have been modified to evade detection.[S1][S2][S4][S5]
Official response
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the incident as a 'hybrid attack scenario' and a 'new level of danger.' He said investigators were focusing on 'foreign powers' as likely perpetrators, though German authorities have not formally attributed responsibility. Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of the German parliament's intelligence committee, directly blamed Russia, calling it a 'targeted hybrid attack' and an 'attempted act of terrorism.' The Russian Embassy in Berlin did not respond to requests for comment.[S1][S3][S6]
The incident led to the temporary suspension of flights at the airport, with several aircraft diverted. A DHL cargo plane, forced to abort its approach, collided with what is believed to have been a second drone and made an emergency landing in Hanover with minor damage. Investigators continued searching for debris from the collision. Operations at the airport returned to normal by Thursday, with no additional security measures reported.[S1][S2][S3]
Context and previous incidents
Leipzig/Halle Airport serves as a major military logistics hub for NATO and German forces and is a base for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines. It has been used for transporting military goods since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The airport has been targeted before: a firebomb sent via DHL exploded there in July 2024, and similar packages were found in the UK and Poland. A subsequent investigation identified 22 suspects in Lithuania and Poland suspected of working for Russian intelligence.[S1][S2][S6]
