Mohan Sinha
10 Aug 2026

BERLIN, Germany: A bus driver at a major German airport stopped a possible attack by knocking a drone carrying explosives out of the air, according to a senior lawmaker.

The incident happened this week at Leipzig/Halle Airport, an important hub for NATO operations and cargo transport. The driver saw the drone flying low while he was working and reacted quickly, striking it and forcing it to crash nearby.

Officials later said the drone was fitted with professional-grade explosives and a detonator. Prosecutors have started a counterterrorism investigation, calling it a serious incident that could have threatened both national and international security.

Authorities have not revealed the identity of the driver. They also have not explained where the drone originated or how it entered a restricted area of the airport.

Leipzig/Halle Airport plays a key role in NATO missions. It serves as the main base for the Strategic Airlift International Solution (SALIS), which uses large Antonov cargo planes to transport military equipment, especially to support NATO's eastern regions. The airport is also widely used by logistics companies such as DHL.

German officials have previously accused Russia of carrying out so-called hybrid attacks, which are aggressive acts that fall short of open warfare. Moscow has denied such claims, and its embassy in Berlin did not comment on this incident.

Media reports said the drone was found near several Ukrainian Antonov An-124 cargo planes, among the largest of their kind. A journalist at the scene saw police gathering evidence near one of the planes on August 5.

Detlef Seif, a lawmaker from the ruling CDU party, described the driver's actions and said, "The bus driver's action was very daring and courageous, but also very dangerous. It is possible that his intervention prevented the intended attack."

Local officials praised the driver's bravery but also warned that people should not try to handle such situations themselves. Saxony's interior minister said reporting the danger would have been enough.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed the incident with senior ministers and remained in close contact with the interior ministry as authorities continued their investigation.