Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence services have concluded that Russia is highly likely to be behind the action. The drone equipped with an ignition system was discovered near a parked Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig-Halle Airport on 04AUG and was neutralized by security forces. In addition, that same night, a DHL cargo plane collided with an unidentified flying object shortly before landing at LEJ. All flight operations were suspended for hours.
Investigations showed that explosives were attached to the drone. An X-ray analysis revealed that the package was also equipped with a detonator, which was, however, reported to have been defunct. According to local information, an airport employee intercepted the drone near the ground. He was unaware at the time that it might contain an explosive device.
Ralph Beisel, CEO of the German Airports Association (ADV), called the incident a “wake-up call.” In a statement, he demanded: “Following numerous drone sightings in the vicinity of airports and the latest incident in Leipzig, “drone defense systems must be installed at airports as quickly as possible and made fully operational. Currently, the airports in Berlin, Munich, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Hamburg, Leipzig/Halle, and Cologne/Bonn are still waiting for the equipment promised by the Ministry of the Interior – systems for detecting and defending against drones.”
Authorities are still investigating the origin of the drone intercepted at Leipzig/Halle. The fact that it was found in the immediate vicinity of Ukrainian cargo planes is likely no coincidence. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, most of Antonov Airlines’ cargo aircraft have been based at LEJ, as operations at their home airport, Kyiv-Hostomel, are too risky due to the threat of Russian missile and drone strikes. From Leipzig, the Antonov cargo planes transport both civilian and military goods to Ukraine or to neighboring airports considered safe.
The drone interception was not the only incident in Leipzig. DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer confirmed another case. While approaching LEJ, a DHL freighter was hit by an unknown object, most likely a second drone, as the German Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, confirmed to the press. The aircraft deviated to Hanover (HAJ), 360km north-west of Leipzig, and landed there safely. At HAJ, inspectors detected minor damage to the front section of the jetliner.
The incident at Leipzig led to “operational impacts” that were “quite noticeable,” as CEO Meyer stated. Investigations will now have to determine exactly where the drones came from and who was navigating them.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt views the drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport as a “hybrid attack scenario.” The conservative politician made this statement on Wednesday evening at LEJ airport. Dobrindt spoke of a “new level of threat.” He declined to comment on who was behind the attack – but he mentioned “possibly foreign powers” and stated that professionals were clearly responsible for the attack.
The incident is reminiscent of one in July 2024 when a package originating from the Baltic states caught fire at Leipzig Airport. The shipment was scheduled to be transferred to a connecting DHL flight at LEJ. Thanks to the commuting flight’s delay, the explosive device detonated at the airport rather than while being airborne (CargoForwarder Global reported).
This was followed by further attempted attacks on DHL aircraft and package stations in Warsaw, Birmingham, Leipzig, and Vilnius.
At least fifteen suspects, recruited and paid by the Russian intelligence service, are linked to the network behind the series of attacks on DHL, media in Vilnius confirm.
On Wednesday, Lithuanian authorities announced the first arrests in connection to the 2024 drone attacks.
Update
Over the weekend, U.S. intelligence services have concluded that Russia is highly likely to be behind the drone action. Both CNN and the Wall Street Journal cite a U.S. defense official in Europe as saying that the U.S. has concluded that the drone belonged to a Russian intelligence service.
The Russian Embassy in Berlin denies responsibility for the incident. The embassy calls it a “provocation” by Kyiv directed against Moscow, intended to stoke anti-Russian hysteria in Germany.
What security measures should airports implement to detect and prevent drone-based threats, and how could such incidents affect air cargo operations?