German police issued an alert on 5/8 at Leipzig-Halle Airport in eastern Germany after discovering an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) carrying explosives on the runway, near a Ukrainian An-124 transport aircraft. Bomb disposal robots were subsequently deployed to neutralize and destroy the drone.

Officials stated that all flights to Leipzig-Halle were redirected for several hours to ensure safety during the drone's disposal.

Ukrainian An-124 transport aircraft at Leipzig-Halle Airport, Germany on 5/8. Photo: AFP

German newspaper Bild reported the same day that a cargo plane belonging to DHL had to abort its landing and increase altitude due to the alert at Leipzig-Halle Airport. The aircraft later collided with an unidentified object at an altitude of 400 m and approximately 6 km from the runway.

The plane landed safely in Hanover and showed minor signs of damage, according to German police.

Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt suggested the incident signaled a "new level of danger." German officials have recently detected several unusual drones, believed to be conducting reconnaissance or spreading fear. "The technology used indicates this is not an amateur operation. We are facing a professional hybrid threat scenario," he emphasized.

German officials have not yet identified the origin of these drones. "All speculation regarding explosives, structure, and who is behind this is currently under investigation," he said, adding that the incident "could be related to foreign powers."

Operations on the north runway of Leipzig-Halle Airport have been restored, while investigators search for clues on the south runway.

Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Oleksii Makeiev blamed Russia for the incident. Moscow has not commented on the information.

Bomb disposal robot deployed at Leipzig-Halle Airport after an explosive-laden drone was found on 5/8. Photo: AFP

Leipzig-Halle Airport plays a crucial role in the military cargo transport network for the German armed forces and their NATO allies. Ukraine's Antonov Airlines has also been based here since the conflict erupted.

In 7/2024, a package caught fire at Leipzig Airport before being loaded onto a DHL cargo plane. German security forces considered this part of a sabotage plot and suspected Russian involvement.

Moscow has repeatedly denied involvement in these incidents.

Thanh Tam (According to AFP, Reuters, Bild)