‘Lucky Coincidence’ Thwarts Alleged Russian Attack on DHL Flight

German intelligence officials are pointing fingers at Russia after what has been described as an incendiary device was nearly planted on a DHL aircraft in July.

During a recent hearing, Thomas Haldenwang, head of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution in Germany, said the country avoided a serious aircraft accident by “only a lucky coincidence.” German newspaper Tagesspiegel reports the fire-starting parcel was set to be loaded on a DHL flight in Leipzig.

The flight was delayed, and the parcel caught fire on the ground. Haldenwang said that had it caught fire midair, a major accident could have followed.

In August, Reuters reported that the German government notified businesses that fire-starting packages may be circulating within shipping networks. The warning followed a series of reports that other parcels had ignited in transit.

Russia is suspected of being behind these parcels. Officials said the German government has seen a rise in “aggressive behavior” by Russian intelligence agencies.

Also in July, a similar incident occurred at a DHL facility in Birmingham, England. It is under investigation by U.K. counter-terrorism officials. According to The Guardian, the package caught fire after arriving from a flight on July 22 before being extinguished by firefighters.

In a statement to Reuters, the logistics company said, “DHL applies strict security measures throughout its global network and works in full compliance with all applicable transport security laws, regulations and procedures.”

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

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