Photo: Bild
German authorities temporarily shut down operations at Leipzig/Halle Airport late on August 5 after an unmanned aerial vehicle carrying what investigators believe was an explosive device was discovered near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft, according to Bild.
Drone found near Ukrainian aircraft
According to German law enforcement, the drone was carrying an unidentified payload equipped with a detonator, which investigators classified as a functional explosive device.
Police dispatched bomb disposal specialists to the scene and prepared a controlled detonation. Authorities also deployed a remotely operated bomb disposal robot to neutralize the UAV, although it remains unclear whether the controlled explosion has already been carried out.
Airport operations suspended
Because of the potential security threat, Leipzig/Halle Airport suspended all flight operations until 1:55 a.m.
During the closure, one cargo aircraft was forced to abort its landing and perform a go-around.
Cargo plane collides with unknown object
Shortly afterward, another cargo aircraft reportedly collided with an unidentified object about six kilometers from Leipzig Airport while flying at an altitude of roughly 400 meters.
The aircraft landed safely at Hannover Airport, where inspectors found minor damage to its nose section.
Sabotage not ruled out
German investigators have not ruled out the possibility that the incident was an act of deliberate sabotage.
Police have launched an investigation and are searching for the operator of the drone.
Earlier, The Economist argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking to weaken NATO from within through a campaign of hybrid or "gray-zone" operations designed to destabilize Western allies. The publication warned that if Russia believes it can carry out limited acts of aggression without consequences, the risks of more dangerous incidents could grow.
