Operations at Germany's Leipzig/Halle Airport, a vital hub for air cargo, faced significant disruptions throughout the night and into Wednesday following security alerts. Authorities confirmed that several flights, including at least one passenger aircraft, were diverted to other airports after reports of an unidentified flying object appeared near the facility shortly before midnight.
Police spokesperson Olaf Hoppe stated that, simultaneously with the aerial sighting, an object was located in the vicinity of the airport's southern runway. Federal police were called to examine the item, and an anti-explosives robot was deployed to the scene to assist in the investigation. While officials confirmed the presence of the object, Hoppe declined to verify claims that a drone was involved in the incident.
The disruption impacted the airport's infrastructure throughout the early morning. Although flights utilizing the secondary runway resumed operations shortly before 2 am, the southern runway remained closed as of Wednesday morning. Hoppe noted that the federal police investigation was nearing completion.
The incident took place in close proximity to the cargo aircraft operated by Antonov Airlines. The Ukrainian carrier has significantly increased its presence at Leipzig/Halle, basing its An-124 cargo fleet there while constructing a new maintenance hangar scheduled for completion in 2027. The airline previously operated out of Hostomel, which was destroyed during the war in Ukraine.
German aviation authorities have reported a rise in unidentified drone sightings within the country's airspace. Official data from the air navigation service DFS indicated that 144 drone overflights were logged last year, with 35 of those incidents occurring near Frankfurt Airport. Similar security concerns have previously impacted other major German transport hubs, including temporary closures at Munich and Berlin's Brandenburg Airport due to drone activity.
In October last year, local media reported that a laser installation had been deployed near Munich airport to protect the facility from drone sightings. That came after the airport was closed for two consecutive days over suspicious drone sightings.
