BERLIN, August 7. /TASS/. A drone carrying explosives discovered at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany was equipped with 5G antennas, ZDF reported, citing sources in security agencies.

According to the TV channel, this indicates control via mobile communications rather than the use of a "drone from a hardware store." "This is the worst-case scenario for detection," drone expert Christian Kaiser told ZDF. "If the drone is controlled via 5G antennas, that means it has a built-in SIM card to which the pilot can send commands. The pilot could theoretically be sitting in a cafe in Leipzig or even abroad: all they need is an internet connection on their device," he explained.

On Tuesday night, Leipzig/Halle Airport suspended flights after an unidentified flying object and a suspicious item were spotted near the southern runway. Several planes were diverted to other airports. Around 11:40 p.m. on Tuesday (12:40 a.m. Wednesday Moscow time), an airport employee discovered a drone carrying a homemade explosive device on the airfield at Leipzig/Halle Airport near a Ukrainian An cargo plane. The object was examined, and the detonator of the explosive device was successfully removed.

In addition, a cargo plane that was forced to abort its landing approach due to the airport closure collided with a second unidentified flying object during the night. Minor damage was discovered on board the aircraft after it landed in Hanover. German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt characterized the incident as a "hybrid attack scenario." He did not rule out the possibility that "foreign states" might be behind it. The German Federal Prosecutor General’s Office is now investigating the drone incident.