3 weeks ago
Explosives-Laden Drone Found Near Ukrainian Aircraft At German Airport
Late one night, police at an airport in Germany found a drone that had explosives attached to it.
The drone was found near cargo planes from Ukraine, which were parked on the runway.
Police sent a special robot to remove the bomb's detonator so it could not explode.
For a few hours, planes that were supposed to land there were sent to other airports.
One cargo plane hit a mystery flying object in the sky, but it landed safely with only small damage.
The airport, called Leipzig/Halle, is very important because it helps move military supplies for Germany and its NATO allies, and it is a base for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines.
Many leaders think Russia might be behind this because Russia and Ukraine are at war.
Ukraine's ambassador to Germany said, 'Who else could it be but Russia?'
Germany's interior minister called it a 'hybrid attack scenario' and a 'new level of threat.'
Russia has not commented on the case, and police are still investigating.
An explosives-laden drone was found on the tarmac near Ukrainian Antonov cargo planes at Leipzig/Halle Airport, and an explosives-disposal robot removed its detonator.
All flights to the airport were diverted for several hours from around midnight while police investigated the device found near the southern runway.
A cargo aircraft that aborted its landing collided with a suspected second unidentified flying object about six kilometres away at 400 metres altitude, suffering minor damage before landing in Hanover.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt called it a 'professional, hybrid threat scenario' and a 'new level of threat,' and Ukraine's ambassador Oleksii Makeiev asked, 'Who else could it be but Russia?'
Regular traffic resumed on the northern runway only, with the investigation ongoing and Moscow yet to comment.
- Who
- German federal police, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, Saxony state Interior Minister Armin Schuster, and Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev
- What
- An explosives-laden drone was found near Ukrainian Antonov cargo planes at Leipzig/Halle Airport, and a cargo aircraft that aborted its landing collided with a suspected second unidentified flying object nearby
- Where
- Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany
- When
- Overnight into Wednesday morning, with flights diverted from shortly before midnight for several hours
- Why
- Ukraine's ambassador blamed Russia, calling it part of a 'hybrid war,' and German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described it as a 'professional, hybrid threat scenario' possibly involving foreign powers
Ukraine and German officials blame Russia
Russian denial and silence
Responsibility for the incident
Ukraine and German officials blame Russia
Ukraine's ambassador Oleksii Makeiev blamed Moscow, asking 'Who else could it be but Russia?' German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the investigation could point to possible 'competition' that 'may also involve foreign powers.'
Russian denial and silence
Moscow had not commented as of the report, and Russia has denied being behind any such drone incidents in Germany.
Nature of the incident
Ukraine and German officials blame Russia
German officials called it a 'professional, hybrid threat scenario' and a 'new level of threat,' and Marc Henrichmann said a confirmed attack 'would represent a new level of escalation in these sorts of attacks.'
Russian denial and silence
Authorities said the investigation was still ongoing and had not confirmed who was responsible; Russia has denied involvement in previous incidents.
Key facts
- Incident
- Explosives-laden drone found near the southern runway; explosives-disposal robot removed the detonator
- Location
- Leipzig/Halle Airport, eastern Germany
- Time
- Overnight into Wednesday, from shortly before midnight; northern runway reopened after about two hours
- Response
- All flights diverted for several hours; both runways closed; no danger to passengers or airport employees
- Mid-air incident
- Cargo aircraft collided with a suspected second unidentified flying object about 6 km away at 400 metres altitude; minor damage; landed in Hanover
- Operational status
- Northern runway only reopened; southern runway remained shut for investigation
- Airport role
- Key military and cargo hub for the German armed forces, NATO allies and DHL; base for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines
- Reaction
- Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt: 'hybrid attack scenario'; Ukraine's ambassador blamed Russia; Moscow had not commented
Quotes
Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany
Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany
“"Russia has long been waging this hybrid war," "Yet the word 'hybrid' somehow downplays the fact that Russia is waging war not only against Ukraine but also against Europe."”
NDTV
“"All of this does not point to an amateurish approach. We are talking about a professional, hybrid threat scenario that we will continue to address."”
livemint.com
Professor Peter R Neumann
Security Studies professor at King’s College, London
“"Since last night, the drone war has reached Germany, and it exposes a weakness that we've known about for years."”
livemint.com
Sources
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