Drones with explosives discovered near Leipzig-Halle Airport

German authorities are investigating a series of security incidents involving drones near Leipzig-Halle Airport, a key logistics hub for NATO. On August 4, an airport worker discovered a drone carrying an explosive device; officials believe the device failed to detonate due to a faulty detonator. That same night, a DHL cargo plane reportedly collided with an unidentified object at high speed. A third drone was discovered on August 14 in a field in Kabelsketal, near the airport’s western side, containing 50 grams of the military-grade explosive Hexogen (T4). Experts suggest the drone was likely defective and intended to target Ukrainian cargo aircraft.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly addressed the incidents, describing them as part of an escalation in hybrid attacks against Germany. German counter-terrorism agencies launched an official investigation on August 5 to identify the origins and perpetrators of these attempts. Authorities are currently examining whether the incidents are linked, as they specifically appear to target logistics operations supporting Ukraine. No further arrests or suspects have been disclosed as the investigation remains ongoing.