Emergency measures have been instituted at Moscow's Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports, following serious security concerns posed by drone threats. According to the Russian aviation authority, known as Rosaviatsiya, these restrictions took effect early on March 11, 2025. By 04:24 AM Moscow local time, Zhukovsky airport had implemented closure protocols for flight departures and arrivals, closely followed by Domodedovo, which enforced its own restrictions at 04:40 AM.
Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin reported the destruction of 11 drones over the Domodedovo and Ramensky urban districts earlier on the same day. This prompted urgency for immediate safety actions as major urban airports faced potential threats, underscoring the precariousness of security amid rising drone sightings. "For the safety of civil aviation, temporary restrictions on the acceptance and release of aircraft at 04:40 MSK were introduced at Moscow Domodedovo Airport as well," Rosaviatsiya commented.
The repercussions of this emergency protocol have been extensive, with many flights from Moscow airports being delayed. Several airplanes destined for Moscow were required to divert to alternate airports, including those located in Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Samara, Saratov, Ufa, and Syktyvkar. A Turkish Airlines flight, previously en route from Istanbul to Vnukovo, made the unexpected decision to land early at Vilnius, demonstrating the airport chaos as air traffic had to be re-routed.
At Vnukovo Airport, numerous flights are experiencing delays of around 10 to 11 hours, significantly impacting travelers. Among these are flights by Azimuth Airlines to Tbilisi, which faced nine-hour delays, and Nesma Airlines, which saw its departure to Hurghada postponed by five hours. Even popular air routes to Dubai operated by flydubai are now running six hours behind schedule. Operational disruptions have led to widespread dissatisfaction among passengers, many of whom were left waiting for extended periods.
Notably, some flights to Moscow from destinations such as Baku have also faced changes; Aeroflot's SU 1851 flight was required to land unexpectedly at Kazan instead of its original destination. The turbulence even affected Aeroflot flights from places like Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk, resulting in diversions to alternate airfields including Nizhnekamsk, indicative of the far-reaching disruption to air travel.
At Domodedovo airport, passengers awaiting departure have found themselves faced with canceled flights to popular destinations, including Antalya and Sochi, and delays on Ural Airlines routes to Sharm el-Sheikh and Kaliningrad. The delays are reportedly considerable, with some arrivals lagging behind by as much as six hours. A Ural Airlines flight from Yekaterinburg is expected to touch down at 12:50 PM rather than the scheduled 07:30 AM.
Travelers have been inundated with information about their flights, with many now checking online flight status continuously due to the lack of clarity. With some airlines struggling to meet schedules, the online departure boards reflect many statuses as "boarding completed" at Vnukovo, yet the planes remain grounded as air traffic control manages the delays from the drone-related restrictions.
This incident reveals the increasing volatility of air travel security and the shared challenges faced by airports globally. Travelers must remain vigilant and prepared for potential delays or cancellations as aviation authorities work to optimize safety measures. There is rising tension and anxiety among airport patrons, as disruptions of this magnitude lay bare the fragility of travel logistics.
Despite these challenges, the aviation sector can take meaningful steps forward by reinforcing security protocols and enhancing communication with passengers during emergencies. Rosaviatsiya's swift response to the potential drone threats demonstrates the commitment to aviation safety and the effort to maintain safety standards within Moscow's increasingly busy airspace.