German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt confirmed that the drone found near cargo planes belonging to a Ukrainian airline at Leipzig Airport was carrying an explosive device, Tagesschau reports.
"Forensic analysis has shown that it was likely a high-explosive charge similar to those used by the military. It is not yet known who is responsible for this suspected terrorist attack," the publication said.
According to updated information, one of the Antonov cargo planes, near which the drone carrying explosives was found, was loaded with military ammunition that had apparently been transported from France to Leipzig shortly before and was likely intended for onward transport. This is stated in a confidential police report.
According to investigators, last Tuesday evening at approximately 11:42, airport staff noticed a drone "hovering" above the ground between two Antonov cargo planes belonging to the Ukrainian state-owned airline Antonov Airlines. According to the authorities’ report, this was followed by "contact between the drone and an employee." The drone then fell to the ground. The drone-defense sensor system had not previously detected this flying object.
On Wednesday evening, Dobrindt said the perpetrators likely modified the drone in such a way as to deliberately bypass the security systems.
According to reports from the WDR and NDR television networks and the SZ newspaper, investigators have already analyzed surveillance camera footage from the airport. A review of footage from the security control center-the airport’s central monitoring and coordination hub – reportedly showed that the drone apparently entered the airport’s airspace from the south as early as 19:28 and then landed on the tarmac.
The video footage reportedly does not show the drone taking off again. However, it appears that a few hours later, the drone was hovering at a low altitude between parked Ukrainian cargo planes when it was spotted by an airport employee.
According to the Ministry of Defense, there were no Bundeswehr military transports at the airport at that time. In general, the Leipzig/Halle Airport is considered an important transportation hub and logistics center for the military. According to reports from government authorities, Ukraine has also been using this airport since the start of the war in February 2022 as an alternative hub for transporting military cargo.
As reported, as a result of the incident, Leipzig/Halle Airport suspended flights until 01:55. At that time, one of the cargo planes was forced to make a go-around and, according to the publication, subsequently collided with an unknown object approximately 6 km from the airport at an altitude of about 400 meters.
After landing in Hanover, minor damage to the front of the aircraft was discovered.
"The police have not ruled out the possibility that this was an act of sabotage. A search is underway for the drone operator," the Bild said in the article.
