Putin returns to Moscow capital amid drone threat
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special aircraft encountered an extraordinary situation related to air safety while returning to Moscow after international events in Turkmenistan. This was reported by One.uz.
Due to the threat of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), Moscow’s airports temporarily imposed restrictions, preventing the presidential aircraft from landing at Vnukovo Airport at the scheduled time. As a result, the aircraft remained airborne over Moscow Oblast, circling while awaiting clearance.
Delay and Flight Activity
The Il-96-300PU aircraft, flight number RSD229, was scheduled to land at Vnukovo Airport at 17:08 after departing from Turkmenbashi. However, due to the drone threat, the landing was first postponed to 18:03 and then further delayed until 20:03.
The aircraft spent over five hours in the air, primarily circling above Moscow Oblast (near Shatura and Kolomna). The escort aircraft, a Tu-204 with flight number RSD708, also remained in the designated holding area for an extended period.
Airport Restrictions and Outcomes
Moscow’s airports implemented temporary safety measures under the “Kovyor” plan. This led to delays or diversions of domestic and international flights at Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky airports to alternate airfields such as Nizhny Novgorod and St. Petersburg.
More than 5,000 users on the Flightradar24 platform tracked the presidential aircraft’s flight path in real time, making this flight one of the most monitored in aviation history worldwide. After 20:00, security forces resolved the situation, and the special aircraft landed safely at the capital’s airport.
