Rabat – An explosive-laden drone was discovered Tuesday night near the southern runway of Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport, triggering flight disruptions and an investigation.
According to the Associated Press, following the discovery, Germany’s federal prosecutor took over the investigation, saying evidence suggests the drone was intended to cause an explosion and treating the case as a serious attack on the country’s transport and logistics infrastructure.
As authorities secured the area, police deployed an explosives-disposal robot to inspect the drone before specialists removed its detonator, allowing authorities to reopen the north runway after a two-hour shutdown that had forced several flights to divert.
Despite the temporary disruption, officials said the impact on airport operations was limited and confirmed that no passengers or staff were harmed.
Further details about the device later emerged, with German media reports cited by Reuters referring to a confidential police document indicating that the explosives-laden drone was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane reportedly carrying military ammunition. Forensic experts also reportedly identified the attached package as containing military-grade explosives.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the incident as a potential “hybrid attack scenario,” saying it appeared professionally planned and required technical expertise and experience with explosives, while federal prosecutors reinforced that assessment later, confirming that the drone was equipped with “professional explosives” and a detonator.
Dobrindt further suggested that the drone may have been designed to evade existing airport defense systems, although authorities have not established whether the nearby Ukrainian aircraft was its intended target.
Separate aircraft incident under investigation
German authorities are also examining a separate incident involving another freight aircraft that night, after the plane struck an unidentified object during a go-around, sustained minor damage, and later landed safely at Hannover Airport.
Federal prosecutors now suspect the unidentified object may also have been a drone and are investigating whether the two incidents were connected.
Strategic airport raises wider security concerns
Leipzig/Halle is a major German freight hub and an important logistics center supporting Ukraine. Ukrainian Antonov aircraft regularly operate there, while the airport hosts NATO’s Strategic Airlift International Solution.
Its strategic role has heightened concerns over the incident. German lawmaker Roderich Kiesewetter blamed Russia, though investigators have not identified any responsible actor.
