Moscow Airports Still Reeling from Unprecedented Drone Assault as Travel Disruptions Continue

Moscow’s four main airports faced significant challenges in resuming normal operations on Thursday, following Ukraine’s largest drone strike ever, which caused extensive travel disruptions, according to Russian transportation officials.

The Association of Tour Operators in Russia reported that approximately 60,000 travelers experienced delays or cancellations of around 350 flights across the nation. The military of Russia claimed that it intercepted 524 Ukrainian drones, prompting civilian aviation authorities to temporarily halt flights.

The Association of Tour Operators stated, “Delays for planes that failed to reach their destinations on schedule will lead to subsequent delays for connecting flights,” characterizing the situation as a domino effect.

Some travelers experienced waiting times exceeding 30 hours. On Wednesday alone, about 12% of all flights in and out of Moscow were canceled.

By Thursday morning, the Russian Ministry of Transportation revealed that over 14,000 passengers were still stuck on nearly 100 inbound and outbound flights at the capital’s airports, although they anticipated a return to normal operations by 6:00 p.m. local time.

Despite these expectations, the Association of Tour Operators noted that around 150 additional flights to and from Moscow were canceled on Thursday.

Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines each canceled approximately 40 flights between Russia and four Turkish cities on Thursday and Friday, impacting over 15,000 travelers.

The disruptions coincided with President Vladimir Putin hosting numerous world leaders for the May 9 Victory Day parade. Among those reportedly affected was Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, who made a stop in Azerbaijan before arriving in Moscow late on Wednesday.