German state prosecutors, including units specialising in extremism and terrorism prevention, have taken over the investigation after a drone carrying an explosive device was found near a runway at Leipzig/Halle Airport. The discovery caused alarm and forced the diversion of several flights while police and bomb disposal experts worked at the scene overnight.
Police deployed a bomb disposal robot to examine the drone, and a team of explosives experts removed a detonator from the device. Authorities have not disclosed exactly where the drone was located, how it was fitted with the device, or whether any arrests have been made. German investigators have not commented on the type or size of the explosive material found, and no further public details have been released.
The security alert unfolded at one of Germany's busiest cargo airports. During the disruption, a DHL cargo plane that had been forced to abort its landing at Leipzig collided with an unknown object in midair. The aircraft later landed safely at another location. The collision happened while the airport was dealing with the discovery of the drone.
DHL Group chief executive Tobias Meyer said the German logistics company was studying the overnight incident, which involved an object clashing with one of its planes near Leipzig. Speaking during a quarterly results call, he said: «We've got plans for cases like this, and we'll try to make sure that the influence on our customers will be as low as possible.» Meyer's comments were reported by Reuters. DHL runs a major operation at Leipzig/Halle, one of the largest freight airports in Europe, and the company's aircraft were directly caught up in the security alert.
The decision to hand the inquiry to prosecutors with extremism and terrorism expertise underlines the seriousness with which German authorities are treating the find. A counter-terrorism team is also involved in the investigation. Investigators are now carrying out technical examinations of the drone and are expected to piece together how it came to be close to the runway and who may have been responsible. It is not yet clear whether the drone discovery and the collision involving the DHL aircraft were connected.
The incident has also focused attention on the security of air cargo operations at German airports. Leipzig/Halle Airport is a major hub for DHL and handles large volumes of international freight, meaning that any sustained disruption can quickly affect supply chains across Europe. The airport is one of the most important cargo gateways in the country, and the overnight alert underlined how a security incident at such a facility can have consequences well beyond the airport itself.
Flights were disrupted overnight as the airport responded to the alert, but normal operations have been able to resume. Police have not said whether additional security measures remain in place. The investigation is continuing, and further statements are expected once technical examinations have been completed.
Authorities have not indicated any motive, and no group has claimed responsibility for the drone. The full circumstances of the incident are still being established, and the airport and police have not confirmed whether the disruption will affect flight schedules beyond the initial overnight response.
