Moscow’s major aviation hubs faced massive disruptions over the weekend as drone strikes targeted the Russian capital, leading to the cancellation or delay of more than 300 flights. Between the evening of December 27 and the morning of December 28, air traffic at Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo airports was largely paralyzed by emergency safety protocols, forcing dozens of aircraft to divert to alternate airfields as defense systems engaged incoming targets.
Why It Matters
The scale of the disruption highlights the increasing impact of cross-border military actions on Russian civilian infrastructure and transportation. While drone activity near Moscow has been reported previously, the activation of widespread safety protocols across multiple regional hubs—including Samara, Kaluga, and Saratov—suggests a significant challenge for Russian air defense and air traffic management to maintain normal operations during high-alert periods.
What to Know
The disruption was triggered by the implementation of the “Kovyor” (Carpet) plan, a specialized operational procedure activated when unidentified objects are detected in the airspace. According to data tracked during the incident, approximately 290 flights were delayed and more than 80 planes were diverted to backup airfields. Reporting from RBC indicates that these restrictions remained in place until midnight, causing a massive backlog of passengers that left terminal waiting areas severely overcrowded.
The Sheremetyevo press service confirmed that during a six-hour window on Saturday evening, the airport saw 34 cancellations and 49 redirections to other air harbors. National carrier Aeroflot issued a statement on Sunday morning noting that because several diverted aircraft had not yet returned to their home bases, further rescheduling for Aeroflot, Pobeda, Rossiya, and Nordwind flights remained a possibility.
What People Are Saying
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that air defenses successfully intercepted 26 drones flying toward the capital. Inside the terminals, witnesses described scenes of exhaustion as travelers waited out the “Carpet” plan. Representatives for Vnukovo airport stated that employees were “taking all measures” to return to a standard schedule, noting that stranded passengers were provided with free drinking water and mattresses.
What Happens Next
Airlines have indicated that they expect to return to a normal flight schedule by the end of the day on December 28, with the final diverted aircraft expected to arrive in Moscow by mid-afternoon. However, with Ukrainian forces recently striking the Syzran oil refinery in Samara Oblast and continuing to target logistical hubs, the Russian aviation sector remains on high alert for further sudden closures of western and central airspace.
