An explosive drone was found and defused at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
On Wednesday morning, an airport employee found a drone with an unknown explosive device near the south runway. The detonator was removed, and the device was sent for examination. An investigation is underway.
Germany's top security official described the incident as a "new threat quality" and indicated it was "professionally" prepared. This is the second such incident in just over two years. In 2024, an incendiary device ignited at a logistics center at the airport and set fire to a freight container, part of a plot that Western security officials suspect Russian intelligence was behind.
Separately, "an object" collided with a plane Tuesday night, police said. The plane was intact but suffered minor damage.
Leipzig/Halle is a major international freight hub. The planes that regularly use it include Ukrainian Antonov transport aircraft. Prominent German terrorism expert Peter Neumann noted on X that Leipzig Airport is one of Europe's most important hubs for providing support to Ukraine. It is home to NATO's SALIS program for strategic airlift. Ukrainian Antonov Airlines has its operational base here.
Investigators have started a search to determine the circumstances of the incident.