German prosecutor: Drone at airport had explosives, detonator

Germany's federal prosecutor has launched an investigation into a drone fitted with explosives and a detonator that was discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport, describing the incident as a "serious attack" on transportation infrastructure and a threat to national security.

Officials stated the drone, found near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo plane, was not the work of amateurs and is being treated as part of a "professional hybrid threat scenario," potentially involving foreign powers. The Federal Police's bomb disposal unit successfully removed the detonator. Flight operations at the airport, a significant hub for cargo and military equipment, were temporarily disrupted, with several planes diverted.

Adding to the alarm, a second drone reportedly collided with a DHL cargo plane as it aborted its landing due to the runway closure. The DHL aircraft later landed safely in Hanover with minor damage. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt warned the incident marked "a new level of danger" for the country, while Ukraine's ambassador to Germany directly blamed Moscow. Investigators are exploring all possibilities, including state-sponsored sabotage, given the airport's role as a logistics hub for NATO and Ukraine.