At Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, interruptions in the baggage handling system were observed, with hundreds of luggage pieces not dispatched on time. The information came from the airport’s press service as reported by TASS. The disruption affected operations and prompted a review of terminal procedures to minimize downstream delays for passengers and their belongings.
According to the airport’s notice, on July 2, 2023, between 19:15 and 21:40 Moscow time, brief malfunctions in the baggage handling system were recorded at Terminal B. The communication described the disruptions as technical in nature and limited in duration, though their impact on departure schedules and baggage flow was notable. Such issues can ripple through the gates, baggage carousels, and connecting flights, requiring quick coordination among ground handling teams, airline staff, and security personnel to prevent further disruptions.
As a result of these technical problems, approximately 300 pieces of passenger luggage could not be processed for domestic flights. The airport indicated that undelivered baggage would be transported to passengers at their destinations on the next available flights. The approach aims to preserve passenger convenience and minimize the risk of lost or misdirected luggage while replacement provisions are arranged with the carriers involved.
On July 1, flights operating from Sheremetyevo began reestablishing normal schedules with a notable first step: a regular service to Varadero in Cuba marked the first such route since 2022. This development reflected ongoing efforts to restore capacity and connectivity from Moscow as the airport manages both routine operations and occasional disturbances with baggage and gate logistics.
Separately, customs officers reported an unusual discovery involving a chocolate gold bar presentation bearing the Alenka brand, found in the possession of a passenger on a Grozny to Istanbul flight. The detection underscores ongoing customs vigilance at major transit hubs and the kinds of items that authorities scrutinize during screening and processing at international points of entry and exit. The incident illustrates the broader context of security checks that accompany baggage handling and passenger flows at large airports.
There have also been prior notes tied to Sheremetyevo Airport involving security and infrastructure matters. In a separate occurrence, a drone was discovered in an abandoned sewer area associated with the airport complex. The finding highlights ongoing concerns about airspace safety and the importance of integrating multiple layers of monitoring and rapid response for both security and operational continuity at major aviation hubs.