BERLIN, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- German authorities said Wednesday that a drone fitted with an unidentified explosive device had been found at Leipzig Airport in eastern Germany.
The Dresden Public Prosecutor General's Office and the Saxony State Criminal Police Office said they had taken over the investigation, noting that the airport is part of Germany's critical infrastructure.
According to a joint statement, an airport employee discovered the drone overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday in a restricted cargo area near the southern runway of the airport.
Federal police examined the device with the help of a bomb disposal robot and removed its detonator.
Authorities also said a suspected second unidentified flying object collided with a cargo plane after the aircraft was forced to abort its landing because the runway had been closed. Minor damage was found after the plane landed in Hanover.
Flight operations at the airport were initially suspended. The northern runway reopened later in the night, while the southern runway was not scheduled for use on Wednesday due to maintenance.
Authorities said passenger flights were not affected and there was no danger to passengers or airport employees.
German Press Agency (dpa) has reported Wednesday, citing security sources, that the drone was found near a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 transport aircraft.
A NATO spokesperson also confirmed to dpa that a drone had been found near a Ukrainian aircraft, adding that German authorities were leading the investigation.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have appealed to the public for information. ■
