Leipzig [Germany], August 6: German police specialists defused a drone carrying an explosive device after it was found overnight at Leipzig airport, as terrorism investigators launched an inquiry into what authorities said on Wednesday could have been a politically motivated incident.
Officers removed the detonator from an explosive device of an as yet unknown type attached to the drone, the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) in the state of Saxony said.
Security sources told DPA the drone was discovered near a Ukrainian Antonov AN-124 Condor transport aircraft and examined using X-ray equipment after being secured by police.
The Dresden Public Prosecutor General's Office and the Police Counter-Terrorism and Extremism Centre, part of the LKA, have taken over the investigation.
Authorities said they could not rule out a political motive, noting that airports constitute part of Germany's critical infrastructure, but have not said anything more about a possible connection to Ukraine.
Several aircraft, including a passenger plane, were diverted after a drone was spotted shortly before midnight. Both of Leipzig/Halle Airport's runways were closed. The LKA said a drone was later found on the southern runway by an airport employee. Meanwhile, another unidentified flying object in the skies over the Leipzig area raised alarm, too.
Investigators said they believe this object collided with a freight plane after the crew aborted its landing and was performing a go-around because the runway in Leipzig had been closed due to the earlier incident. The plane was diverted and landed safely in Hanover, where inspectors found minor damage.
The airport's northern runway reopened early Wednesday, while the southern runway was due to remain closed for the remainder of the day.
Leipzig/Halle Airport has served as a maintenance base for Ukrainian cargo carrier Antonov since 2006. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Antonov relocated its fleet to the eastern German airport, where six aircraft are now based. A new maintenance hangar is due to open in 2027.
Source: Qatar Tribune