By Key Facts
- Operator: DHL
- Location: Leipzig Halle Airport (LEJ) / Hannover Airport (HAJ), Germany
A DHL cargo jet was forced to abort its landing at Leipzig Halle Airport (LEJ) after German authorities discovered a drone carrying an explosive device beside the runway, prompting an immediate go-around. The aircraft subsequently diverted to Hannover Airport (HAJ), where post-flight inspectors found minor damage to its forward fuselage section.
DHL Cargo Jet Diverts After Explosive Drone Found at Leipzig
The explosive-laden drone was located adjacent to the runway at Leipzig Halle, one of Europe’s busiest cargo hubs and the primary European base for DHL’s air freight operation. The discovery forced the inbound freighter to abandon its approach before it could touch down.
However, the situation grew more complex after the aircraft landed safely at Hannover. Inspectors identified damage to the jet’s forward section — damage that had not been present before departure. Investigators are now examining whether the aircraft struck a second, separate drone during or after its aborted approach at Leipzig.
Investigators Probe Possible Second Drone Strike
German authorities are working to establish whether the two incidents — the runway drone and the object that struck the aircraft — are connected. The nature of that connection, and whether a coordinated act of sabotage was involved, remains under active investigation.
Leipzig Halle Airport handles a substantial share of European air cargo traffic, particularly overnight express freight. As a result, any security incident at the facility carries significant implications for supply chains across the continent. DHL operates a large dedicated fleet of freighters through the hub, making it a strategically sensitive site.
Drone incursions near airport perimeters have become an increasing concern for European aviation regulators in recent years. Incidents involving weaponised or explosive drones, however, represent a sharply elevated threat level compared with the hobbyist or commercially operated unmanned aircraft that more commonly prompt runway closures. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the runway drone was remotely piloted or functioned autonomously.
No injuries were reported. The investigation into both the explosive device and the object that struck the DHL cargo jet is ongoing.
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