Operations at Leipzig Airport in Germany have been temporarily suspended following the discovery of a drone carrying what is believed to be explosives, according to *Bild*. The newspaper described the incident as an attempted terrorist attack against a Ukrainian «Antonov». The police are searching for the drone operator and have not ruled out the possibility that this was an act of sabotage.
Briefly about the main points
- Leipzig Airport has temporarily suspended operations due to a drone.
- There may have been explosives on the drone.
- The cargo aircraft collided with an unidentified object during its second approach.
- The damaged aircraft landed safely in Hanover.
- Law enforcement officers are searching for the operator and have not ruled out the possibility of sabotage.
The restrictions have affected the cargo hub
Leipzig/Halle is a major air freight hub: DHL describes its hub there as the largest of the company’s three global hubs. According to Eurostat, the airport handled around 1.38 million tonnes of air freight in 2024, so the temporary suspension of flights could affect the freight transport schedule.
In Germany drone flights near airports are subject to significant restrictions under aviation security regulations. Civil aviation security at Leipzig/Halle is the responsibility of the Federal Police.
A cargo plane landed in Hanover following a collision
Another cargo plane was unable to land in Leipzig. During its second approach, it collided with an unknown object, sustained damage and landed safely in Hanover.
The police are searching for the operator of the drone that was found and have not ruled out the possibility of sabotage.
