Drone incident near An-124 in Germany raises questions as aircraft carried ammunition
Photo: An-124 cargo aircraft (Getty Images)
An explosive-laden drone discovered near a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo aircraft at Leipzig Airport was reportedly targeting a plane carrying ammunition. The claim comes from an investigation by German media outlets WDR, NDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung, which cited a confidential police report, Tagesschau reports.
According to the report, surveillance cameras spotted the drone at 7:28 p.m. local time on August 4 as it entered from the south and landed on airport grounds. Later, at 11:42 p.m., the device took off again and hovered between two Antonov Airlines An-124 cargo planes.
A "contact between the drone and an airport employee" then occurred, causing the device to fall to the ground. Germany's Defense Ministry said no Bundeswehr military transport operations were being conducted through the airport at the time.
Special modification and Semtex explosive
The airport's detection system failed to identify the drone. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said the device had been specially modified to evade counter-drone measures.
A forensic examination found that a fist-sized package of explosives had been attached to the drone. Investigators believe it was likely loaded with Semtex plastic explosive.
Collision with DHL aircraft
On the night of the incident, a DHL cargo plane was forced to abort its landing and perform a go-around due to the temporary closure of the airport. According to investigators, the aircraft later collided in midair with an unidentified object, possibly another drone.
The plane, which was also carrying dangerous cargo, was diverted to Hannover Airport. After it landed safely, experts discovered damage to the aircraft's nose section.
On the night of August 5, Leipzig Airport temporarily suspended flights after a suspicious object was found near the runway close to a Ukrainian An-124 transport aircraft.
Media reports later identified the object as a modified drone that may have been equipped with explosives. The incident forced several flights to be diverted to other airports.
German authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident and are examining possible Russian involvement in the appearance of the drone near the Ukrainian aircraft.
