Mass drone attack disrupts Moscow airports, delaying 59 flights

A mass drone attack has paralyzed Moscow's airports, with at least 59 flights delayed on Thursday, September 3. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed Russian air defense destroyed 548 drones heading for the capital over the past day. The delays affected Vnukovo (29 flights), Domodedovo (23), and Sheremetyevo (7), according to The Moscow Times analysis. Rosaviatsia repeatedly imposed restrictions on Moscow airports due to the air threat since the evening of September 2. Sobyanin said 143 drones were shot down near Moscow, the rest at distant approaches. Airport disruptions have continued since September 1, with hundreds of flights delayed or canceled at Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo on the night of September 2. Ukraine has warned ICAO about risks in Russian airspace, while Rosaviatsia dismissed such warnings as legally invalid. Foreign carriers, including Pegasus and Turkish Airlines, have also adjusted or canceled Moscow flights.