pyrotechnic Attack Targets Air Force Plane in Lower Saxony, Prompting Investigation
Wunstorf, Germany – An Air Force C130 transport aircraft was targeted with pyrotechnics while preparing for takeoff from a Fliegerhorst (air base) in Lower Saxony, prompting an immediate security response and a criminal investigation.Pilots alerted air traffic control to the incident, which occurred despite prior warnings about potential disruptions.
The incident, confirmed by police, is being investigated as a hazardous interference with air traffic, carrying potential penalties of up to ten years imprisonment. It unfolds against a backdrop of heightened security concerns within the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) and across Europe, following a series of incursions into national airspace and increased geopolitical tensions.
Authorities swiftly launched a comprehensive search of the area surrounding the air base, deploying Feldjäger (military police), local police, and even a bomb-sniffing dog. As of Wednesday, the perpetrator remains at large.
The Luftwaffe currently operates six C130 transport planes, utilized for troop deployment alongside the larger A400M aircraft.These planes have recently been involved in humanitarian missions, including airdropping aid packages over the Gaza Strip.
The timing of this event is notably sensitive. In recent weeks, several European nations have reported incidents involving suspected Russian drones. Just last month,three russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated Estonian airspace for twelve minutes. Germany itself has experienced similar provocations, with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius recently revealing that a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flew directly over a German frigate in the Baltic Sea.
Police have indicated that if apprehended, the individual responsible for the pyrotechnic attack faces either a fine or a prison sentence ranging from six months to ten years. The investigation is ongoing.
