Pashinyan’s Plane Unable to Land in Moscow Due to Drone Attack by Ukraine
As a result of the nighttime drone attack on Moscow and the Moscow region, the plane carrying Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan could not land in the Russian capital and was forced to redirect to a backup airfield.
According to the Russian Telegram channel Baza, Pashinyan’s plane was unable to land due to the closure of airspace. Consequently, the aircraft headed for a backup airfield. After the nighttime drone attack, more than 170 flights were delayed at Moscow airports.
Waiting for Landing Permission
The aircraft Pashinyan ACJ319 spent almost an hour in the air over the Tver region, waiting for permission to land but did not receive it. Eventually, the plane was redirected to Pulkovo Airport, where it landed around 01:00.
The Prime Minister was visiting Moscow after a trip to Germany, planning to participate in a meeting of the Intergovernmental Council of the Eurasian Economic Union.
Attack on the Moscow Region
The Moscow region experienced one of the largest attacks in recent months: air defense systems shot down 32 drones. Residents reported explosions in Zhukovsky, Ramenskoye, Odintsovo, and Dubna. In these areas, explosions continued even at night, along with the noise of drones flying over the cities.
Airport Restrictions
Four Moscow airports – Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Zhukovsky – sequentially imposed restrictions. As a result, more than 170 flights were delayed, canceled, or redirected. A significant number of planes were reoriented to Pulkovo Airport. Two international flights circled over the Vladimir region for almost an hour and a half: one was sent to St. Petersburg, while the other remained waiting for a ‘window’ in the air.
At Vnukovo, passengers welcomed the morning right in the terminal – people spread out mattresses, boxes, and occupied benches, spending the night at the airport.
Moreover, on the night of December 11, drones attacked Veliky Novgorod in Russia, where a fire broke out at the chemical plant of PJSC Acron, which specializes in the production of fertilizers and industrial products. This attack was part of a large-scale drone campaign that has recently affected Moscow, the Moscow region, and the Smolensk region.
These events demonstrate the increasing level of tension in the region. Nighttime drone attacks on Moscow and neighboring areas are no longer isolated incidents, but reflect new challenges faced by various countries. Delays at airports caused inconveniences for passengers who found themselves in difficult conditions, forced to remain in the terminals.
