A DHL cargo aircraft struck an unidentified object while climbing from Leipzig/Halle airport in eastern Germany overnight, leading to an unscheduled landing in Hanover, a source familiar with the event told Reuters on Wednesday.

Authorities are examining a drone discovered near a runway at the airport during the night, and Bild newspaper reported that it contained a detonator.

The southern runway of the airport, a key hub for DHL, stayed closed as explosives experts reviewed the drone, a police spokesperson said.

Several aircraft, including one passenger flight, were diverted overnight, though operations returned to normal by morning, the spokesperson added.

German airports remain on high alert following multiple unauthorized drone flights over locations such as military sites, energy terminals, seaports, and logistics firms.

Federal police have indicated the flights may involve Russian agents.

Bild reported that a drone fitted with a detonation device was found near a Ukrainian cargo plane just before midnight on Tuesday.

While air traffic faced diversions, one cargo plane aborted its landing, struck an unknown object, and later touched down in Hanover, where minor nose damage was noted, according to the report.

An interior ministry spokesperson confirmed a drone was located at the airport but offered no further details.

Russia denies involvement in 2024 incendiary incidents

European security agencies continue to investigate incendiary devices hidden in parcels that ignited in 2024, sparking worries over sabotage targeting air cargo firms.

Some devices turned up at a DHL warehouse in Leipzig and in freight shipments moving across Europe.

Russia has denied any role in those events.

DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer noted the firm is still reviewing the overnight incident.

"We have plans for cases like this, and we will try to make sure that the influence on our customers will be as low as possible," Meyer said during a quarterly results call.