'New Level of Danger': Explosive Drone Found Near Ukraine Cargo Plane At German Airport
News world 'New Level of Danger': Explosive Drone Found Near Ukraine Cargo Plane At German Airport 'New Level of Danger': Explosive Drone Found Near Ukraine
News world 'New Level of Danger': Explosive Drone Found Near Ukraine Cargo Plane At German Airport 'New Level of Danger': Explosive Drone Found Near Ukraine Cargo Plane At German Airport Published By, Last Updated: August 06, 2026, 03:05 IST German police found an explosives-laden drone near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig-Halle airport, diverting flights. A Ukrainian "Antonov" cargo plane at the German airport Leipzig-Halle in Schkeuditz. (AFP photo) German authorities launched an investigation after an explosives-laden drone was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig-Halle airport, while another aircraft reportedly collided with an unknown flying object nearby. The security alert forced all flights at the eastern German airport to be diverted for several hours overnight. Police used a bomb-disposal robot to remove the detonator from the explosive device attached to the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) found on the runway.
The airport is a key hub for military transport by Germany and NATO allies and also serves as a base for Ukraine’s Antonov Airlines. Germany warns of ‘hybrid threat’ German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called the incident as a “new level of danger", saying the technology involved did not suggest an amateur operation. “We are dealing here with a professional hybrid threat scenario," Dobrindt told reporters at the airport. He said investigators would examine all possibilities, including the origin of the drone, the explosives used and who may be behind the incident. Germany has previously reported drone sightings near sensitive locations, including airports, military facilities and industrial sites. Authorities have accused Russia of being behind several suspected sabotage and espionage operations, though Moscow has denied the allegations. Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, blamed Russia for the latest incident.
“Who else could it be but Russia?" he said in an interview with German broadcaster Welt TV. Flights resume as probe continues German police said the alert began shortly before midnight after an unidentified flying object was seen near Leipzig-Halle airport. Several flights, including a passenger aircraft, were diverted to other airports. Police later confirmed that a bomb disposal team had removed the detonator from the explosive device. A DHL cargo aircraft also reportedly aborted its landing after a suspected collision with another unidentified flying object about six kilometres from the airport. Police said minor damage was found on the aircraft after it landed safely in Hanover. Normal operations later resumed at Leipzig-Halle, although investigators continued searching the southern runway for evidence. (With inputs from AFP) News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad.
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