Authorities found a drone equipped with explosives near a Ukrainian cargo plane before the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit safely defused it, while a mysterious object also struck a plane causing minor damage.
On 5 Aug 2026, police in the German state of Saxony revealed that Leipzig/Halle Airport staff detected an explosive-laden drone within the cargo operations area overnight, prompting officials to deploy a robot for investigation.
A police spokesperson told BBC that the device found at Leipzig Airport last night was near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft parked there, before the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team successfully defused the bomb.
Meanwhile, an unidentified object struck a cargo plane flying near the same airport, causing minor damage that was only discovered after the aircraft landed in Hanover.
These events led to the temporary closure of Leipzig Airport's runway, with the northbound runway reopening at 01:55 on Wednesday, while the southern runway—the main route used by major carrier DHL—remains closed.
In recent months, Germany has experienced multiple unauthorized drone incursions into special surveillance zones including military bases, airports, energy stations, ports, and transportation companies, leading to heightened airport security. Police suspect these breaches may be the work of Russian intelligence agents.
Additionally, in July 2024, an explosive parcel caught fire on the ground at Leipzig Airport before being loaded onto a DHL cargo plane. This was one of several "flammable parcel" incidents targeting the United Kingdom and European Union countries.
Officials suspect these incidents may be linked sabotage connected to Russia, though Moscow denies any involvement in these events.
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:bbc