- A bus driver at Leipzig/Halle airport kicked a low-flying drone, which then crashed nearby, in what Detlef Seif described as a courageous but dangerous act.
- The drone was equipped with professional explosives and a detonator, according to prosecutors, and the incident is being treated as a serious attack.
- German media reported that the drone was found close to several Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo airplanes, among the world's biggest freighters.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a call to discuss the drone incident and remained in constant contact with Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and other cabinet members.
- Seif praised the bus driver's action as "very daring and courageous, but also very dangerous", suggesting it may have prevented the intended attack.
- Schuster cautioned that the bus driver's intervention is "not a model to be emulated", advising that letting authorities know would be enough.
German authorities are investigating a drone incident at Leipzig/Halle airport after a bus driver kicked the flying device, which was equipped with explosives, out of the air. The drone crashed nearby, leading to a counterterrorism probe by federal prosecutors who described the event as a serious attack that could threaten both foreign and domestic security.12
The bus driver, who was working at the airport, acted in what Detlef Seif, a member of the parliamentary interior committee, called a courageous but dangerous act. Seif noted, “The bus driver’s action was very daring and courageous, but also very dangerous. It is possible that his intervention prevented the intended attack.”7
The drone was found near several Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo airplanes, which are among the world’s largest freighters. Leipzig/Halle serves as the main operational base for NATO's Strategic Airlift International Solution (SALIS), which is crucial for strengthening the defense pact's eastern flank.5
Chancellor Friedrich Merz held discussions regarding the incident, maintaining communication with Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and other cabinet members. Local officials have emphasized the need for caution, with one stating, “Letting us know would be enough,” highlighting the risks of such direct intervention.6
“The drone, equipped with professional explosives and a detonator, was found near Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo planes, raising concerns about a potential attack. Chancellor Friedrich Merz held a call on the incident, staying in contact with Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt.”
