German authorities found a third drone and more explosives at an additional location near Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) over a week after two other UAVs were involved in incidents around the area, according to latest media reports.
According to NDR, WDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung, on August 14, 2026, a previously unknown drone was discovered in a field in Kabelsketal, to the west of Leipzig/Halle Airport.
Investigators and forensic scientists descended on the area to analyze the device, and the next day subsequently found around 50 grams of the explosive hexogen at the same site.
The discovery came 10 days after an explosive-laden drone was located at Leipzig/Halle Airport close to a parked Antonov Airlines An-124.
After the first drone was found on August 4, 2026, a second drone is understood to have hit a DHL cargo aircraft shortly after while the plane diverted to another airport following the closure of LEJ.
German media reported the collision occurred roughly six kilometers from the airport at an altitude of about 400 meters.
When the DHL aircraft arrived at Hanover Airport (HAJ), damage to the tail section was found. A bird strike was ruled out by investigators.
NDR, WDR and Süddeutsche Zeitung also reported that more drone components were found around the airport, including a motor and a rotor, on August 11, 2026.
The Federal Criminal Police Office’s (BKA) are investigating the case on behalf of Federal Prosecutor General Jens Rommel.