Possible explosive drone incident at Leipzig airport involving AN-124 and a DHL aircraft.

More details are emerging about yesterday's drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport.

According to WDR, NDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung, one of the Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft parked next to the drone was loaded with military ammunition that had recently arrived from France and was awaiting onward transport, according to a confidential police report.

Investigators say the drone was first seen hovering between two Antonov cargo aircraft before being forced to the ground by an airport employee, where authorities discovered the attached explosive device.

Surveillance footage reportedly shows the drone entered the airport from the south at around 19:28, landed on the apron and remained there for several hours before being spotted shortly before midnight. According to Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, the drone was likely modified to evade existing counter-drone systems, which reportedly failed to detect it.

Authorities are also investigating the second incident that occurred after the airport was temporarily closed. A DHL cargo aircraft was forced to abort its landing and reportedly collided with an unidentified object near the airport while traveling at approximately 500 km/h. Investigators believe the object may have been another drone. A bird strike has reportedly been deemed unlikely after forensic testing.

I am absolutely SHOCKED there isn't more concern over this incident? It would be so easy to fly a drone packed with explosives into an airliner packed with people.

Airline dudes, are your companies saying anything?

The bad guys know, it is just a matter of time!

4 hours ago, ClearedHot said:

Airline dudes, are your companies saying anything?

5 hours ago, ClearedHot said:

Airline dudes, are your companies saying anything?

When an airline sends out anything to the pilot group, it is in the public domain well before 1/10th of the company pilots read the email. I doubt they'll ever say anything to the pilots about something like this unless the FAA mandates it.

On 8/7/2026 at 8:35 AM, ClearedHot said:

I am absolutely SHOCKED there isn't more concern over this incident? It would be so easy to fly a drone packed with explosives into an airliner packed with people.

Airline dudes, are your companies saying anything?

The bad guys know, it is just a matter of time!

So LGA recently tucked the phrase "MANPAD alert" into a landing clearance, and nary an eye was batted.

Responsiveness:

Meh...its not that cosmic. Proactive measures cost $$$. I mean, the industry will do something...when they're told to do so. Till then it's on-time metrics and making the commute.

42 minutes ago, BFM this said:

So LGA recently tucked the phrase "MANPAD alert" into a landing clearance, and nary an eye was batted.

Responsiveness:

Meh...its not that cosmic. Proactive measures cost $$$. I mean, the industry will do something...when they're told to do so. Till then it's on-time metrics and making the commute.

Maybe because it was probably a plumber carrying a pipe on his shoulder. I mean, it came from a Delta pilot. Consider the source.

3 hours ago, disgruntledemployee said:

Maybe because it was probably a plumber carrying a pipe on his shoulder. I mean, it came from a Delta pilot. Consider the source.

I believe it was an endeavor Pilot, so straight civilian background. If it had been any of us, they would’ve had to replace the To-Ga button.

Edited August 8Aug 8 by BFM this

I am really shocked this is not getting more traction. It was confirmed the drone was packed with roughly 800 grams of military-grade Semtex and PETN. It reportedly hit a Ukrainian cargo aircraft but did not detonate. Seriously how long until a nefarious group does the same to an airliner?

5 hours ago, ClearedHot said:

I am really shocked this is not getting more traction. It was confirmed the drone was packed with roughly 800 grams of military-grade Semtex and PETN. It reportedly hit a Ukrainian cargo aircraft but did not detonate. Seriously how long until a nefarious group does the same to an airliner?

Christopher Nolan has always had the most realistic take on the balance between freedom, ignorance, and safety. The Dark Knight was another excellent metaphor.

Edited August 12Aug 12 by Lord Ratner

No need to worry about that.... hey, look over here, we're installing a secondary barrier to the cockpit to make sure guys with box cutters won't hijack an airliner again! Unfortunately, history has shown us that we're usually ready to fight the previous war, not the next one. It is tragic, but it'll probably take either an actual hit or a very public very close call before this threat is taken seriously.

12 hours ago, Smokin said:

hey, look over here, we're finally installing a secondary barrier to the cockpit to make sure guys with box cutters won't hijack an airliner again, 25 years after the attack.

I have flight attendants who weren't alive for 9/11 and we're just now getting the barriers.

We're a joke.