All Four Moscow Airports Shut Down, One Declares Air Raid Alert And Begins Evacuating Passengers

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Rosaviatsia said Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky had suspended arrivals and departures. Sheremetyevo issued an air raid alert and directed passengers to safe zones, while Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said at least 11 drones had been shot down approaching Moscow. The cause of the restrictions and how long they will last were not specified in the report.

All four Moscow airports suspended arrivals and departures on October 23, Russia’s aviation authority said, after Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that at least 11 drones had been shot down while approaching the capital. Sheremetyevo issued an air raid alert and directed passengers to nearby safe zones and shelters; the report did not say how long the closures would last.

Rosaviatsia said Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky had stopped accepting arrivals and sending out departures. The statement established that operations were suspended at all four airports, but did not provide a reopening time or specify how many flights were affected.

At Sheremetyevo, passengers were told to go to the nearest safe zones and shelters after an air raid alert was declared. Domodedovo said temporary restrictions meant flight schedules were being adjusted. Vnukovo reported its closure and said the measures were due to security considerations; passengers were advised to prepare for a lengthy wait, including while remaining aboard aircraft.

Sobyanin said over the preceding several hours that at least 11 drones had been shot down as they approached Moscow. The report did not provide further details about where the drones were intercepted, whether damage or injuries were reported, or whether the airport suspensions were directly ordered in response to each reported interception.

How the Closures Affect Travelers

The simultaneous suspension of arrivals and departures at all four Moscow airports can disrupt both travelers’ immediate plans and wider flight schedules. Passengers may face delays, diversions or extended waits, while airlines and airport staff must respond to restrictions whose duration was not stated in the report.

The passenger instructions differed by airport. Sheremetyevo directed people toward shelters and safe zones, while Vnukovo warned of lengthy waits, potentially on aircraft. Those directions underline that this was not only a scheduling disruption: airport authorities were also communicating security measures to people on site. The available report does not confirm the scale of cancellations or give a count of passengers affected.

Repeated Drone-Related Flight Suspensions

The report said Moscow’s airports had repeatedly closed over the previous two months amid threats of Ukrainian drone attacks. Dozens of flights have been delayed during earlier disruptions, and some airport operations have experienced disorder, according to the report. That recent pattern gives travelers reason to expect knock-on effects, but it does not establish how extensive this particular suspension will be.

It also cited earlier public remarks about aviation and drone attacks. On September 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian skies were becoming unsafe and said Russian airspace would in practice be closing because of Ukrainian drone attacks. He also said Ukraine did not threaten civil aviation as such. Russian President Vladimir Putin called Zelensky’s statement a declaration of terrorism and said Russia would find a way to respond if such tragedies occurred. These remarks provide political context; they do not independently establish the cause of the October 23 airport closures.

“Passengers were told to head to the nearest safe zones and shelters.”

— Sheremetyevo airport

Duration and Flight Impact Unknown

The report did not specify when any airport would reopen, how many flights were canceled or diverted, or how many passengers were affected. It also did not state whether the four closures began at the same time or whether restrictions would be lifted together.

Although Sobyanin reported drones shot down near Moscow, the report did not provide details about their locations, targets or any damage and casualties. It also did not explicitly state that each airport’s decision was made in response to those particular interceptions. Further official updates are needed to clarify the operational status and the security situation.

Watch for Airport and Airline Updates

The immediate next step for travelers is confirmation from airport authorities and airlines about departures, arrivals and reopening times. Those details were not available in the report. Passengers at Sheremetyevo had been directed to safe zones and shelters, while Vnukovo advised people to be ready for a prolonged wait; travelers should follow current instructions from airport staff rather than assume normal operations have resumed.

Any further information from Rosaviatsia, the airports or city authorities could clarify the duration and scope of the restrictions. Until then, the confirmed position is that all four airports had suspended arrivals and departures, with no reopening schedule stated.

Key Questions

Which Moscow airports were closed?

Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo, Vnukovo and Zhukovsky suspended arrivals and departures, according to Rosaviatsia.

Why were the airports shut?

The report linked the closures to temporary security restrictions and reported drone activity near Moscow. Vnukovo cited security considerations, but the report did not provide a detailed official explanation connecting every closure to a specific incident.

Did Sheremetyevo evacuate passengers?

Sheremetyevo declared an air raid alert and told passengers to go to the nearest safe zones and shelters. The report did not give details about the number of people moved or describe the evacuation process.

When will flights resume?

No reopening time was given in the report. Passengers should check directly with their airline and airport for current flight and safety instructions.

Source: rss