Four flights from Türkiye to Vnukovo turn back over Moscow airport restrictions

Planes bound for Vnukovo from Ankara, Istanbul, Dalaman and Bodrum returned to their departure airports and another landed in St. Petersburg; Russia's aviation authority says overnight restrictions in Moscow have been lifted.

Four planes flying from Türkiye to Moscow's Vnukovo Airport turned around mid-flight and returned to their departure airports because of restrictions in the Russian capital, a source in the European Union's air traffic control services told TASS.

According to the source, the flights had departed from Ankara, Istanbul, Dalaman and Bodrum and turned back while in Lithuanian and Polish airspace. Another flight from Istanbul to Vnukovo landed in St. Petersburg. The information is also reflected on Vnukovo's online departures and arrivals board.

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) said earlier that temporary restrictions on arrivals and departures had been imposed overnight at all Moscow airports to ensure flight safety. The agency said all restrictions have since been lifted.

Passengers planning to travel between Türkiye and Moscow in the coming days are advised to check their flight status on the airline's website and the airport's online board before leaving for the airport.