German police defused an explosive drone found near a cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle airport.
Why it matters: The incident shut runways at one of Germany's key cargo airports and forced flight diversions. It also triggered a wider investigation into whether a separate object struck a freight aircraft.
- Police said the drone was found on Tuesday, Oct. 1, near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Schkeuditz, Saxony, and bomb specialists defused it.
- Both runways were closed and several flights were diverted, including at least one passenger flight; the north runway reopened after about two hours.
- Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called it a "new quality of danger" and a "hybrid attack scenario," but did not assign blame.
- Investigators are examining whether a freight aircraft was hit by a second object after an aborted landing and later diverted to Hannover with slight damage.
German authorities are investigating an explosive drone found on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Leipzig/Halle Airport, a major cargo hub in eastern Germany. Police said bomb specialists defused the device after it was discovered near a Ukrainian cargo aircraft, according to AP.
The disruption quickly spread across the airport. Both runways were closed, several flights were diverted and the north runway reopened after about two hours, AP reported. Local broadcaster MDR separately described Leipzig/Halle as one of Germany's most important cargo airports, underscoring the operational significance of the shutdown.
A separate aircraft-incident thread is still under review. Investigators are examining whether a freight aircraft experienced a collision with a second object after an aborted landing. AP reported that the plane later diverted to Hannover and sustained slight damage, while officials continued searching for parts of a possible second drone or object AP.
Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called the episode a "new quality of danger" and a "hybrid attack scenario," but authorities have not attributed the drone or said what its intent was. He said, "That a drone armed with explosives is at an airport is a new threat scenario," AP reported AP.
By the numbers
- 2 - hours until the north runway reopened
- 1 - passenger flight at least was diverted
- 2 - runways closed during the disruption
What's next: Investigators are still searching for parts of a possible second drone or object and have not attributed the incident.