An explosive drone with a detonator was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany early Wednesday morning. The drone was located near the south runway and led to several flights being diverted, including one passenger airplane. An anti-explosives robot was dispatched by police to defuse the device.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that this incident represents a 'new quality of danger' to national security, noting that while drone sightings at European airports have occurred before, none have been armed with explosives. He emphasized that the presence of an explosive drone at an airport constitutes a new threat scenario.
The investigation is ongoing to determine the origin of the drone and the responsible parties. The drone was reportedly seen near a Ukrainian Antonov Airlines cargo plane, leading to speculation about a potential link to Russia, although this has not been confirmed. European officials have previously accused Russia and its proxies of conducting hybrid attacks involving drones since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Additionally, German officials reported that a second flying object, possibly another drone, collided with a freight plane that had to abort its landing due to the closed runway. The damaged plane was redirected to Hannover Airport, approximately 125 miles northwest of Leipzig. Authorities are currently searching for debris from the second object. The north runway at Leipzig/Halle Airport reopened after about two hours, while the south runway remained closed for maintenance, with officials assuring that there was no danger to passengers or airport staff.