NATO has confirmed a drone was sighted near a Ukrainian transport plane at Germany's Leipzig airport, prompting a security investigation now led by state prosecutors. The incident disrupted cargo and passenger flights at the major hub.
Key facts
- A drone was reported near a Ukrainian transport plane at Leipzig airport in Germany.
- German police initially investigated an 'unidentified flying object' disrupting flights.
- State prosecutors, including extremism and terrorism prevention units, have taken over the investigation.
- A drone reportedly carried an 'explosive device' and an object clashed with a DHL plane near Leipzig.
- A Marabu Airlines flight from Mallorca was diverted to Nuremberg due to the disruption.
NATO has confirmed the sighting of a drone near a Ukrainian transport plane at Leipzig airport in Germany, following what officials described as a security incident, according to the Guardian’s Europe live coverage. German police had earlier said they were investigating an ‘unidentified flying object’ that disrupted flights at the airport.
The incident primarily affected cargo planes arriving at Leipzig, but it also caused disruptions for passengers. A Marabu Airlines plane travelling from Mallorca had to be diverted to Nuremberg as a result of the disturbance, the Guardian reported.
German media stressed that Leipzig is a major hub for deliveries to Ukraine, and the drone was reported near a Ukrainian transport plane at the site, adding significance to the incident given the airport’s logistics role.
By midday, German state prosecutors, including units working on extremism and terrorism prevention, had taken over the investigation into the Leipzig incident, indicating authorities were treating the matter with heightened seriousness.
According to the Guardian, the drone was reported to have carried an ‘explosive device,’ and an object was said to have clashed with one of DHL’s planes near Leipzig during the overnight incident.
DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer said the German logistics firm was studying the overnight incident. ‘We’ve got plans for cases like this, and we’ll try to make sure that the influence on our customers will be as low as possible,’ Meyer said during a quarterly results call, as reported by Reuters.
Why it matters
Leipzig is a key logistics hub for deliveries to Ukraine, so any security threat there could affect the flow of goods during wartime. The involvement of terrorism prevention units signals authorities are treating the drone sighting as a potentially serious threat rather than a routine disruption.
Frequently asked questions
What happened at Leipzig airport?
A drone was sighted near a Ukrainian transport plane, disrupting cargo and passenger flights. German police initially investigated it as an 'unidentified flying object,' and state prosecutors later took over the case.
Who is investigating the incident?
German state prosecutors, including units that work on extremism and terrorism prevention, have taken over the investigation into the Leipzig incident.
Were any flights affected?
Yes. The incident primarily affected cargo planes, and a Marabu Airlines flight from Mallorca had to be diverted to Nuremberg. An object also reportedly clashed with a DHL plane near Leipzig.