Turkish Airlines flight TK 401, traveling from Istanbul to St. Petersburg, failed to touch down at Pulkovo Airport and instead traced a path toward Moscow. Data feeds note that adverse weather played a key role, with Saint Petersburg blanketed in snow and air conditions growing challenging for landing. In the Slantsy region, the aircraft executed multiple circles before selecting a new course toward the federal capital. Travelers awaiting arrivals to Pulkovo were promptly informed of timetable changes, and the online status boards subsequently listed Vnukovo as the new arrival point in place of Pulkovo.
Earlier, a Ural Airlines aircraft departing from Yekaterinburg and originally scheduled to land at Pulkovo could not complete the first approach and proceeded to a second landing attempt on a subsequent circuit. The sequence of diversions underscores the impact of winter weather on flight operations and the need for adaptive routing when runways and approach procedures are affected.
Meanwhile, airports in Saint Petersburg and Moscow including Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, and Vnukovo have, in past circumstances, activated the highest alert levels tied to security or emergency events. Authorities with Rostourism/Nadzor and related agencies have advised carriers to adopt enhanced safety protocols that align with the elevated threat posture, aiming to preserve passenger safety while maintaining orderly air traffic operations during periods of heightened risk.