Ukraine's ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, has claimed Russia was responsible for a drone carrying a bomb that was discovered at Leipzig-Halle Airport, an incident that led to flight diversions and a mid-air collision involving a cargo plane. German police deployed a bomb disposal robot after the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was found on the tarmac near a Ukrainian cargo plane.
The discovery of the drone, painted with Ukrainian colors and bearing the slogan "Be Brave Like Kherson," prompted alarm and forced the diversion of numerous flights. "Who else could it be but Russia?" Makeiev stated, according to Welt TV, referencing a Ukrainian region affected by Russian strikes.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt described the event as a "very serious, security-relevant incident" and a "hybrid attack scenario." He noted that while drone sightings and threats in a hybrid context are known, an "armed with explosives" drone at an airport represents a "new threat scenario." Dobrindt characterized the incident as a "professional, hybrid threat" requiring a high degree of technical experience and familiarity with explosives.
The airport first reported a "security-related incident" shortly before midnight on Wednesday, leading to a temporary halt in flights. An unidentified flying object was sighted near the airport, causing several aircraft, including a passenger plane from Mallorca and multiple cargo planes, to be rerouted. One aircraft, attempting to land in Leipzig, aborted its approach and subsequently collided with an unknown object. The plane later landed safely at Hanover Airport with minor damage to its nose, according to reports.
Leipzig-Halle Airport, a significant hub for the transport of military goods for the German military and NATO allies, also serves as a base for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines. Regular traffic resumed on the northern runway early Wednesday, while investigators examined the southern runway. Authorities confirmed the drone was found at the airport but offered no further immediate details on its make or model. The mid-air collision was confirmed, with the plane that had to abort its landing safely landing elsewhere after the impact.
Germany and other European nations have reported an increase in drones flying over sensitive locations, including airports, military bases, and industrial facilities. German authorities suspect Russia is orchestrating many of these incidents as part of a campaign of sabotage, espionage, and disinformation. This follows a July 2024 incident at Leipzig Airport where a parcel caught fire before being loaded onto a DHL cargo plane, an event security services treated as a suspected Moscow-linked arson plot.
Makeiev echoed these concerns, pointing to the 2024 parcel incident and stating, "Indeed, Russia has long been waging this hybrid war." He added that the term "hybrid" might downplay the reality that Russia is waging war not only against Ukraine but also against Europe.
Previous drone-related incidents in Germany include a halt in flights at Munich Airport in May following a possible drone sighting, and another closure last October due to several "military" drones observed over the airport. In September 2024, German authorities investigated claims of unidentified drones possibly spying on critical infrastructure in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, with multiple drones spotted near a power plant, a university hospital, and a shipyard.