German police are investigating a suspected sabotage attempt after a drone rigged with explosives was discovered next to a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig-Halle Airport, a major cargo hub in eastern Germany. The drone, fitted with an 'unknown substance and detonator,' was found just before midnight near the Ukrainian An-124 aircraft, prompting an immediate security response.
Bomb squad called to defuse device
Police summoned a bomb squad to the scene, who conducted a remote detonation of the device, ensuring no injuries or fatalities occurred. The airport, which also serves commercial passengers, has its cargo zone separated from passenger areas, limiting the immediate threat to travelers. The discovery is being treated as a possible sabotage attack, though authorities have not yet identified any suspects.
This incident adds to a growing list of suspected Russian-linked sabotage operations targeting cargo aircraft and infrastructure across Europe. In 2024, a DHL plane that departed from Leipzig Airport crashed near Lithuania, killing one person and injuring three others. That crash came months after a firebomb detonated at a DHL warehouse in Birmingham, UK, which was described as a 'test run' by Russian spies. A near-identical fire occurred at a DHL warehouse in Leipzig, the departure point for the crashed plane, with a suspect package bound for a flight believed to be the source of the blaze.
European authorities point to Russia
European intelligence agencies, including MI6, have previously alleged that Russia is behind a campaign of sabotage on aircraft. An open-source investigation revealed that Russian actors have been targeting aircraft systems for years, affecting airlines such as Ryanair, Wizz Air, British Airways, EasyJet, TUI, and Jet2. Between August 2023 and March 2024 alone, 46,000 flights in regions like the Baltic, Black Sea, and eastern Mediterranean reported GPS interference issues.
Warnings about Russian interference with navigation systems are not new. In 2019, the Norwegian defence ministry raised the issue in a bilateral meeting with Russian officials. Electronic attacks have also been allegedly deployed in eastern Ukraine since 2015. The Kremlin has consistently denied any involvement in such activities.
Ongoing threat to aviation
The latest discovery at Leipzig-Halle underscores the persistent threat to aviation security in Europe. While no group has claimed responsibility, the pattern of incidents points to state-sponsored sabotage. The airport remains operational, but heightened security measures are likely in the coming days. German police continue their investigation, with no leads announced so far.
