A serious security incident was recorded overnight at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany, where a drone equipped with explosives and a detonator came dangerously close to a Ukrainian cargo plane.
NATO has confirmed the incident, while according to security sources, the drone flew very close to a Ukrainian Antonov transport plane, raising serious security concerns.
Due to the incident, authorities temporarily suspended flights and diverted several planes, including a passenger flight, after an unidentified flying object was reported and a suspicious object was found in the airport area.
Police said the suspicious object was examined by special explosive ordnance disposal units, which also used a special robot. Investigators are looking into whether there is a connection between the unidentified drone and the object found on the ground.
Authorities stressed that there is currently no threat to the public. The northern part of the airport resumed operations in the early hours of Wednesday, while the southern runway remained closed until the investigation is completed.
Leipzig/Halle Airport is of particular strategic importance, as it serves as a major hub for the transport of military equipment for the German military and NATO allies. It is also home to the fleet of Ukrainian air transport company Antonov Airlines and hosts the European distribution center of DHL Express.
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Two drones seen over German military base, days after Leipzig bomb incident
This is not the first security incident at the airport. In July 2024, a package caught fire at a DHL facility shortly before being loaded onto a plane. The head of Germany's intelligence service publicly accused Moscow of being behind the incident.
In September 2025, a Chinese citizen was convicted of espionage after, according to the prosecution, he had provided a former aide to a far-right MP with information on flights, cargo and passengers at the airport, including data related to the transport of military equipment and people linked to a German defense industry company.
