A major German airport was thrown into lockdown after workers discovered what investigators believe was an explosive-laden drone close to aircraft on the tarmac, prompting a counterterrorism investigation and renewed fears of sabotage.<\/p>\n
The device was found in the cargo apron area at Leipzig\/Halle Airport near aircraft operated by Ukrainian cargo carrier Antonov Airlines, according to German media reports citing police documents.<\/p>\n
In a dramatic twist, an airport employee reportedly picked up and held the drone before anyone realised it may have contained explosives.<\/p>\n
Investigators later concluded the drone was fitted with a detonation mechanism, with initial forensic tests reportedly detecting traces of explosive nitrates. According to Bild, officials suspect the payload may have contained Semtex, a powerful military-grade explosive.<\/p>\n
Documents cited by Welt suggest disaster may have been narrowly avoided after investigators concluded the detonator had become detached during the drone\u2019s flight, preventing an explosion.<\/p>\n
The discovery triggered a major security<\/a> operation. Bomb disposal specialists deployed a remote-controlled robot<\/a> to examine the device while parts of the airport were sealed off, disrupting cargo operations.<\/p>\n The incident prompted Germany\u2019s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt to cut short a holiday in Italy and return for emergency<\/a> talks with senior security officials. Chancellor Friedrich Merz was also briefed while on holiday in Bavaria.<\/p>\n Saxony Interior Minister Armin Schuster described the discovery as \u201ca very serious security<\/a> incident.<\/p>\n Police said unidentified flying objects were detected near the airport shortly before midnight, forcing several<\/a> aircraft, including a passenger flight, to divert. A second suspicious object near<\/a> the southern runway was also examined by bomb disposal teams.<\/p>\n Separately, a DHL cargo aircraft was forced to make an unscheduled landing in Hanover after striking an unidentified object during take-off. The aircraft suffered minor damage to its nose, and German authorities have opened a state security investigation.<\/p>\n NATO said it was aware of the incident, while speculation quickly turned towards possible Russian<\/a> involvement.<\/p>\n Ukraine\u2019s ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, suggested Moscow was the most likely culprit, while senior German lawmaker Konstantin von Notz warned that, if a foreign state were responsible, the incident could amount to \u201cstate terrorism\u201d.<\/p>\n