Third drone carrying explosives found near Leipzig airport as German authorities probe suspected attack

German authorities investigating a suspected attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport have uncovered a third drone, according to reports by Süddeutsche Zeitung, NDR and WDR. The discovery follows two earlier incidents on Aug. 4, when a drone carrying explosives was found near a Ukrainian Antonov cargo plane, and a second drone allegedly collided with a DHL freight aircraft.

The third drone was located on Aug. 14 in a field in Kabelsketal, a municipality bordering the western part of the airport in Saxony-Anhalt’s Saalekreis region. Forensic experts from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) later detected traces of a substance at the site, initially assessed as approximately 50 grams of the high-explosive Hexogen, which also failed to detonate .

The first drone, discovered in the airport’s security zone between Ukrainian cargo planes, was equipped with explosives and positioned near the kerosene-filled wings of an Antonov aircraft used for transporting military supplies to Ukraine. The second drone, which has not been recovered, was reported by pilots who observed a 30-centimeter object at an altitude of 300 to 400 meters before their DHL plane aborted its landing due to the runway closure. Radar analysis also indicated the presence of a small flying object .

Federal Prosecutor General’s Office and BKA investigators are examining the role of the drones in the suspected attack. A spokeswoman for the Federal Prosecutor’s Office declined to comment on the third drone’s discovery when approached by NDR, WDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung .

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated that the incident was part of a broader pattern, saying, “Leipzig is not a singular case, but Leipzig is part of a larger structure we are dealing with.” While Russia is suspected, the perpetrators have not been confirmed .

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office previously described the initial discovery as a “serious attack on Germany’s transport and logistics infrastructure.” Additional suspicious traces and components were found near the airport, though their connection to the drones remains under investigation .