DHL Plane Collides with Unknown Object
The incident occurred overnight near Leipzig/Halle Airport, with German authorities investigating a possible link to a found drone.
The incident occurred overnight near Leipzig/Halle Airport, with German authorities investigating a possible link to a found drone.
A cargo plane operated by logistics group DHL collided with an unknown object in mid-air shortly after taking off from Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany, forcing an emergency landing in Hanover. The incident occurred during the night between August 4 and 5, 2026, a source familiar with the situation confirmed to Reuters.
Meanwhile, authorities confirmed they are investigating a drone found near the runway of the same airport during the night. The Bild newspaper reported that the drone contained a detonator. A police spokesperson stated that the airport's southern runway, which serves as a major hub for DHL and Ukrainian carrier Antonov Airlines, remained closed while explosives experts examined the device.
Bild further reported that the drone with an explosive device was found in close proximity to a Ukrainian Antonov cargo plane shortly before midnight on Tuesday. An X-ray revealed a detonator inside the drone, but it was defective. According to the same source, the explosive was likely of a type that can be easily made from fertilizer and gasoline.
Due to the situation, several aircraft, including one passenger flight, were diverted overnight. One cargo plane had to abort its landing and subsequently struck an unknown object, after which it landed in Hanover. Minor damage was discovered on the nose of that aircraft. Operations at the airport returned to normal in the morning, a police spokesperson confirmed.
German airports have raised their alert levels following a series of unauthorized drone overflights above military installations, energy terminals, seaports, and logistics companies. The Federal Police stated that these overflights may have been organized by Russian agents.
European security agencies are also investigating a series of incendiary devices hidden in packages that ignited in 2024, raising concerns about potential sabotage by air cargo operators. Some of these devices were found at DHL's warehouse in Leipzig and in cargo shipments in transit across Europe.
The Ministry of the Interior stated that at this stage, no connection can be established with Tuesday evening's incident. Russia has denied any involvement in the 2024 incidents and in the recent drone overflights.
DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer said the German logistics company is still studying the overnight incident but is trying to minimize the impact on customers.
