A DHL cargo aircraft was compelled to execute an emergency landing in Hanover after colliding mid-air with an unidentified object shortly after departing from Leipzig Airport, a source familiar with the incident informed Reuters on Wednesday.
German police have stated that they are investigating a suspicious object found near a runway at Leipzig Airport, following a security incident that occurred overnight, temporarily disrupting airport operations.
Several cargo planes and a passenger flight from Mallorca were rerouted to nearby airports as a result.
The object discovered near the southern runway is believed to be the one with which the plane collided, though all information remains preliminary. Federal police officers have examined the object, and a bomb disposal robot has been deployed to the scene. A police spokesperson told Die Zeit that the ongoing investigation is assessing whether the discovery is connected to the aircraft.
Authorities have categorized the incident as a “security-related event.”
Suspicion of Drone Collision
According to RTL, the cargo plane struck the object at an altitude of approximately 400 meters, just a few kilometers after takeoff.
Air traffic resumed overnight and has since been fully operational using the northern runway of the airport. Investigations for evidence continue on the now-closed southern runway. A police spokesperson noted that they are looking into whether the two incidents are related.
BILD reported that the object with which the plane collided was a drone containing a detonator, prompting federal police to send bomb disposal experts; however, this information has not been officially confirmed by authorities.
Investigators in Hanover indicated, after examining the impacted DHL aircraft, that it sustained minor damage to its front end.
