- Both runways at the major freight hub were closed and several flights, including one passenger plane, were diverted to other airports after a flying object was sighted nearby shortly before midnight Tuesday.
- An apparent second flying object collided with a freight airplane after it aborted a landing at Leipzig/Halle because the runway was closed.
- The plane flew to another German airport, Hannover, about 200 kilometers (125 miles) to the northwest, where officials found slight damage.
- The north runway at Leipzig/Halle was reopened after about two hours, and the south runway was scheduled to be out of action for maintenance on Wednesday.
- Officials described the incident as a 'hybrid attack scenario' and a 'new quality' of threat.
- The regional interior minister of Saxony state, Armin Schuster, said authorities were looking for parts of a possible second drone.
- Authorities said there was no danger to passengers or airport employees, and flights weren’t affected during the day.
- Photos from the scene showed police technicians with an explosives-disposal robot near a Ukrainian plane.
- The airport is a leading cargo hub and the planes located there include Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft.
- In 2024, an incendiary device ignited at a logistics center at the airport and set fire to a freight container, part of a plot that Russian intelligence was behind.
A drone carrying explosives was found at Leipzig/Halle Airport, leading to the closure of both runways and the diversion of several flights, including a passenger plane. The incident occurred shortly before midnight Tuesday when an airport employee discovered the drone near the south runway.1
Authorities deployed an anti-explosives robot to examine the device, which was later defused. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt characterized the situation as a 'new quality of danger', indicating a significant shift in the nature of threats faced by airports. He described the incident as a 'hybrid attack scenario' but did not provide further details on potential suspects or the explosives' origin.6
The regional interior minister of Saxony, Armin Schuster, stated that authorities were investigating the possibility of a second drone, as an apparent second flying object collided with a freight airplane that had to abort its landing due to the runway closure. The plane was redirected to Hannover, where it sustained slight damage.237
Despite the alarming nature of the incident, authorities confirmed there was no immediate danger to passengers or airport employees, and operations resumed during the day. The airport, a key cargo hub, has previously faced security threats, including a 2024 incident involving an incendiary device linked to Russian intelligence.1011
“The incident forced closure of both runways at the major freight hub, diverting several flights including a passenger plane. Authorities are searching for parts of a possible second drone, and a freight plane that aborted landing suffered slight damage after a collision.”
AP News
