Explosives-laden drone found at Leipzig/Halle airport, German police say

A drone carrying an explosive device has been found at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany, according to Saxony police. The object was spotted in the cargo operation area during the night, prompting the deployment of a robot to examine it.

Later, a second unidentified object collided with a cargo aircraft that had departed from the same airport. Minor damage was detected on the aircraft after it landed in Hanover.

A police spokesman told the BBC that the object discovered overnight was located near parked Ukrainian Antonov transport planes. It was examined with the assistance of the Federal Police, and an explosives disposal unit removed the detonator from the device.

Flights on the northern runway resumed at 01:55 local time (23:55 GMT on Tuesday). The southern runway, which serves as a major hub for logistics company DHL, remains closed.

Saxony's Interior Minister Armin Schuster called the incident a 'very serious security incident'. German airports are on high alert, and federal police have warned that the overflights may have been organised by Russian agents.

In recent months, Germany has experienced a series of unauthorised drone flights over sensitive sites, including military bases, airports, energy terminals, seaports and logistics companies.

In July 2024, a parcel burst into flames on the ground at Leipzig airport before it could be loaded onto a DHL cargo plane, part of a series of parcel fires targeting the UK and EU countries. Authorities suspected sabotage linked to Moscow. The parcels contained explosive devices triggered by electronic timers hidden in vibrating massage pillows. Russia has denied any involvement.

Last year, a Chinese woman was convicted of passing on information about flight schedules and cargo movements at Leipzig-Halle airport to a man spying for Beijing.