A drone carrying explosives attacked a Ukrainian An-124 in Germany
An FPV drone carrying explosives crashed into the wing of a Ukrainian An-124 “Ruslan” cargo plane at Leipzig/Halle Airport. According to Die Zeit, the drone struck the area where the fuel tanks are located, and it contained Semtex plastic explosives. The explosion did not occur, but new details are leading German journalists to speculate about a possible targeted attack.
The FPV drone carrying the explosive device did not simply end up near the Ukrainian aircraft. It crashed directly into the wing of the An-124 “Ruslan.” According to the publication, the impact occurred in a particularly vulnerable section of the wing—where the fuel tanks are located. As a result, the consequences could have been much more severe had the explosive device detonated. However, the explosion did not occur. It is currently unknown why the device failed to detonate.
The drone was loaded with Semtex
According to Die Zeit, the drone was loaded with Semtex plastic explosives. This is a crucial detail, as this was not simply a drone that accidentally crashed on airport grounds. An explosive device was inside the drone.
The drone itself was not found immediately after it struck the plane. It was discovered approximately four hours after the incident. According to journalists, the drone was accidentally spotted by a tour bus driver. He stepped on the drone and then reported the discovery to security.
Why this is an important detail
Initially, the incident could have been perceived as a kind of “warning” with no intention of causing serious damage to the plane. However, new information casts doubt on this theory. If the drone was indeed aimed at the plane’s wing and contained explosives, the attack could have posed a real threat to the An-124.
Especially given where exactly the drone struck. Journalists from *Die Zeit* emphasize that the drone struck a part of the wing connected to the fuel tanks. Therefore, the theory of an accidental incident or a symbolic “warning” seems much less plausible.
At the same time, final conclusions about the motives behind the attack and its organizers must be drawn by law enforcement agencies. At this point, publicly available information does not reveal who exactly launched the drone or why the explosive device failed to detonate.
Antonov uses the airport in Leipzig
Leipzig/Halle Airport is of particular importance to the Ukrainian airline Antonov. It is regularly used as a base for the company’s cargo aircraft, specifically the An-124 “Ruslan.” These aircraft are designed to carry very large and heavy cargo. The An-124 is one of the largest production transport aircraft in the world.
That is why the incident in Leipzig attracted particular attention. This was not simply a case of an unidentified drone appearing near the airport, but a direct strike against a Ukrainian cargo plane. The most important detail at this point is that no explosion occurred. This is likely what prevented much more serious consequences.
The investigation must determine who was behind the attack, how the drone ended up in the airport area, what its flight path was, and why the explosive device failed to detonate. New details reported by *Die Zeit* also indicate that the incident involving the Ukrainian An-124 in Leipzig could have been far more serious than initially thought. This is reported by *Die Zeit*.
Germany will establish a new research center to counter drones at the test airfield of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
