Archive · 5 Aug 2026
Explosive-Fitted Drone Found at German Airport After Plane Struck
Something very serious happened at an airport in Germany called Leipzig-Halle Airport.
Police found a drone on the ground near a Ukrainian cargo plane, and the drone had an explosive device attached to it.
A drone is a small flying machine that people control from the ground.
Police used a special robot to take the detonator off the drone so it would not be dangerous.
Around the same time, a DHL cargo plane hit something unidentified in the air and had to land at another airport in Hanover.
The airport stopped flights for several hours and sent incoming planes to other places.
By Wednesday morning, flights were running again, but only one runway was open.
German police are investigating what happened and are asking witnesses to come forward.
Ukraine's ambassador thinks Russia may be responsible, but German authorities have not proven it.
Everyone is being very careful while the investigation continues.
Police recovered an explosives-laden drone from the tarmac at Leipzig-Halle Airport near a Ukrainian Antonov Airlines cargo aircraft.
Bomb disposal specialists used an explosives disposal robot to remove the detonator; investigators classified the device as an improvised explosive and incendiary device.
A DHL cargo aircraft struck an unidentified flying object about six kilometres from the airport and landed safely at Hanover Airport with minor nose damage.
Airport operations were suspended shortly before midnight and incoming flights were diverted for several hours; regular operations resumed early Wednesday with only the northern runway open.
Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, suggested Russia was behind the incident, but German authorities have not presented evidence and Moscow gave no immediate response.
- Who
- German authorities and federal police bomb disposal experts, the crew of a DHL cargo aircraft, and Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev.
- What
- An explosives-laden drone was found on the tarmac at Leipzig-Halle Airport near a Ukrainian Antonov Airlines cargo plane, while a separate DHL cargo aircraft struck an unidentified flying object and landed safely at Hanover Airport.
- When
- Overnight, with airport operations suspended shortly before midnight; regular operations resumed early Wednesday.
- Where
- Leipzig-Halle Airport, Germany, and Hanover Airport.
- Why
- German authorities are investigating whether the two incidents are connected; Ukraine's ambassador suggested Russia was responsible, though no evidence has been presented.
Ukraine: Russia is behind the incident
Germany/Russia: No evidence of Russian involvement
Responsibility for the drone incident
Ukraine: Russia is behind the incident
Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, said of Russia, 'Who else could it be but Russia?' and argued Russia has long been waging a hybrid war against Europe.
Germany/Russia: No evidence of Russian involvement
German authorities have not presented evidence linking Russia to the case, and Moscow gave no immediate response; the investigation is still underway.
Whether the two incidents are connected
Ukraine: Russia is behind the incident
The drone discovery and the DHL aircraft strike occurred within hours of each other, and authorities are investigating whether they are linked as part of one event.
Germany/Russia: No evidence of Russian involvement
Police have only confirmed minor damage to the DHL plane and have not established any connection between the two incidents; the link remains unproven.
- Location
- Leipzig-Halle Airport, Germany
- Drone discovery
- Four-rotor drone fitted with an explosive device found on the tarmac near an Antonov Airlines cargo aircraft
- Device classification
- Improvised explosive and incendiary device; detonator removed by an explosives disposal robot
- Aircraft incident
- DHL cargo aircraft struck an unidentified object about 6 km from the airport; reports differ on whether it occurred shortly after takeoff or after an aborted landing
- Damage and landing
- Minor nose damage; plane landed safely at Hanover Airport
- Operational impact
- Operations suspended shortly before midnight; diversions for several hours; only northern runway operational Wednesday
- Investigation
- German counter-terrorism police investigating possible connection between incidents and appealing for witnesses
- Allegation
- Ukraine's ambassador suggests Russia is responsible; no evidence presented and no immediate Moscow response
