Flight disruptions were reported at Moscow’s airports, with a total of 20 flights affected by delays. By 01:00 Moscow time, seven arrivals or departures bound for Domodedovo experienced delays, and an additional three were canceled. In Vnukovo, seven flights faced delays while one was canceled, and at Sheremetyevo, eight flights were delayed. The official reasons for each setback were not disclosed at the time, leaving passengers and carriers to contend with uncertainty and speculation.
During the early hours of September 9, the situation persisted with four flights canceled and nine more delayed across Moscow’s aviation hubs. The volume of disruptions highlighted a period of increased operational strain for the region’s air transport network as it managed a surge in schedule changes and adjustments to inbound and outbound movements.
The situation was tracked by local media and social channels, with reports indicating the possibility of upgraded security measures in response to evolving threats. The Baza Telegram channel noted the activation of the Carpet plan, a contingency framework employed to address illegal border crossings and the appearance of unidentified objects in the airspace around the capital’s airports. The plan was reported to have been activated at 3:30 in the morning, and later, it was canceled after assessments indicated the immediate risk had subsided. This sequence of alarms, suspensions, and rescheduling reflected a broader pattern of flight disruptions in Moscow and the surrounding region, which authorities attributed at the time to attempts to attack the airports using unmanned aerial vehicles.
In response to these events, Russian authorities had begun deploying a new drone suppression system designed to deter and mitigate drone incursions near critical aviation infrastructure. The evolving security framework and the deployment of counter-drone technology underscored the ongoing effort to maintain air safety while balancing the operational needs of carriers, airport operators, and passengers during a period of heightened risk and rapid adjustment to changing threat levels. (Baza Telegram channel attribution)