Moscow airports cancel and delay over 120 flights amid drone attack
Vnukovo Airport in Moscow (photo: seoshnik)
More than 120 flights were canceled or delayed at Moscow's key airports, Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo, due to a massive drone attack, according to Russian media.
According to the media outlet's estimates, schedule changes at the two Moscow airports affected nearly 40 departing flights and more than 80 arriving flights.
According to preliminary information, passengers had already boarded several aircraft when, at 10:27 p.m. local time, the "Carpet" plan was introduced at Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo airports.
Some flights were postponed until the following day.
According to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, air defenses shot down nine drones heading toward the capital on the evening of September 2.
As of 12:27 a.m. on September 3, the mayor of the Russian capital reported that 10 drones had allegedly been shot down.
The "Carpet" plan in Russia is a special airspace regime introduced in the event of a serious threat, including drone attacks or the appearance of unidentified aerial objects.
After the "Carpet" plan is declared, civilian aircraft must immediately leave the designated area or land, while airport operations may be completely restricted.
On September 1, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian airspace was becoming dangerous for civilian aviation due to the large-scale presence of Ukrainian drones.
The number of cancellations at Moscow airports rose sharply after Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statement about closing the skies over Russia. Nearly 30 flights will not operate.
