St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport has temporarily halted all flights amid heightened security concerns following drone attack threats. Operating under emergency measures since 7:45 AM, the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) confirmed these restrictions, which are enforced to prioritize passenger safety.
The decision to close Pulkovo Airport correlates with overnight drone attack incidents reported across various regions of Russia. According to military officials, 16 Ukrainian drones were intercepted, with one reaching the vicinity of Leningrad Oblast. This development prompted authorities to activate heightened security protocols, demonstrating the government's response to rising aerial threats.
"Aircrews, air traffic controllers, and airport services are taking all necessary measures to maintain flight safety, which is our utmost priority," Rosaviatsiya stated, stressing the urgent need to protect passengers and aircraft amid these challenges.
The initial flight restrictions at Pulkovo were implemented earlier on January 4, with reports of significant delays for flights between St. Petersburg and Orenburg due to these emergency measures. For example, Aeroflot flight SU-2852 from St. Petersburg arrived at 7:00 AM, nearly two hours late, and another flight from Orenburg was similarly delayed.
These delays reflect the broader operational impacts as numerous flights were diverted or forced to circle the airport. Some passenger aircraft, upon nearing St. Petersburg, were noted to be circling over Lake Ladoga before heading back or redirecting to other airports, such as Moscow's.
Commenting on the aerial security situation, the Governor of Leningrad Oblast, Alexander Drozdenko, acknowledged the effectiveness of air defense systems deployed over the Gulf of Finland, confirming the destruction of one drone and assuring no structural damage or injuries resulted from the intercepts.
The capacity for the airport to manage incoming flights has been compromised as varying operational regulations have been enacted consistently over the previous weeks, showcasing the instability caused by these drone incidents. Specifically, Rosaviatsiya had previously closed Kazan Airport multiple times, demonstrating the increased frequency of such measures as the drone threat escalates.
While flights remain grounded at Pulkovo, two aircraft originating from Kazan were scheduled to arrive but faced delays of over two hours, highlighting the cascading effects of these restrictions on air travel across the region.
Overall, these developments illuminate the precarious nature of aviation security amid rising drone threats, coupled with the significant and immediate operational disruptions faced by airports and airlines alike.