Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency temporarily halted arrivals and departures at all four airports serving Moscow on October 23 after air defenses engaged drones approaching the capital, according to AeroTime’s report.
The restrictions covered Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME), Vnukovo (VKO) and Zhukovsky (ZIA). Rosaviatsiya announced the full measures at 14:05 Moscow time, citing flight safety. Vnukovo and Domodedovo had already been operating only with clearance from the authorities.
By 16:43 Moscow time, Rosaviatsiya said Vnukovo and Domodedovo could again accept and dispatch flights under that clearance regime. The agency had not announced a change for Sheremetyevo or Zhukovsky in the notice cited by AeroTime.
The disruption affected Emirates flight EK133 from Dubai to Domodedovo. Flight-tracking data cited in the report showed the Airbus A380 circling over Russia’s Penza region while awaiting clearance to continue toward Moscow.
Sheremetyevo separately directed passengers and staff into shelters and restricted access to secure airside areas in its terminals. Rosaviatsiya said airlines were adjusting schedules and reminded carriers of obligations under Russia’s FAP-82 rules to provide refreshments, meals and, for longer delays, hotel accommodation to passengers affected by delays.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that air defenses had destroyed drones approaching the city, but those claims were not independently verified. The airport restrictions were the second full closure of Moscow’s four airports in two days. The same airports had also faced restrictions during the night of October 15–16, when AeroTime reported that flight activity was limited at multiple Russian airports in the name of flight safety.