Drones and explosives found near Leipzig airport
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The gist
German investigators found a third drone and 50g of suspected hexogen near Leipzig airport on Aug.
The find suggests a larger attack plot on a key NATO logistics hub.
Background
Leipzig/Halle Airport is a major cargo and military logistics hub used by NATO and Ukraine's Antonov Airlines. On August 4, an explosives-laden drone was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane, and a second drone may have collided with a DHL aircraft. The recent discovery of a third drone and explosives indicates a continued threat, with German officials suspecting state involvement.
How it unfolded
- Aug 4, 2026An explosives-laden drone was found near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle Airport; the device did not detonate.
- Aug 4, 2026About 20 minutes later, a second drone possibly collided with a DHL cargo plane, forcing it to divert to Marseille.
- Aug 11, 2026Investigators found more drone components, including a motor and rotor, near the airport.
- Aug 14, 2026A third drone was discovered in a field in Kabelsketal, west of the airport, along with about 50 grams of suspected hexogen.
- Aug 25, 2026German media reported the discovery; Chancellor Merz said the government would soon provide information on who was behind the attacks.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Chancellor Merz said Germany is 'under threat' and that attackers 'will pay for this,' but did not name a suspect.
- Intelligence sources
- Sources cited by NDR, WDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung suspect Russian intelligence involvement; Moscow denies.
- Public
- A YouGov poll found 63% of Germans are concerned about the incident.
Still unverified
The suspected involvement of Russian intelligence is based on unnamed sources and denied by Moscow; the exact nature of the explosive substance is not confirmed.