Plane From Istanbul Lands in Minsk Due to Restrictions at Moscow Airports

Reform.news · 8 October 2026, 20:28

https://reform.news/en/plane-from-istanbul-lands-in-minsk-due-to-restrictions-at-moscow-airports/

A plane flying from Istanbul to Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport landed in Minsk, which was used as an alternate airport. Vnukovo Airport reported this, according to TASS.

“The flight from Istanbul was diverted to Minsk Airport, which served as an alternate airport,” the agency’s source said.

The plane was originally scheduled to arrive at Vnukovo at 6:30 p.m. Moscow time. Its estimated arrival time after the diversion is 9:55 p.m. Moscow time.

Vnukovo earlier reported that during more than two hours of restrictions on aircraft arrivals and departures, 10 flights were diverted to alternate airports.

Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, had earlier imposed temporary restrictions on aircraft arrivals and departures at Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports. The agency said the measures were necessary to ensure “flight safety.” The restrictions at Vnukovo and Domodedovo were later lifted.

According to Rosaviatsia, Sheremetyevo Airport continued to receive and dispatch flights in coordination with the relevant authorities due to temporary restrictions on the use of airspace in the vicinity of the airport. The agency warned of possible changes to flight schedules.