Russian government planes 'left trapped in the air and unable to land' amid Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow

Published: 13:45 EDT, 9 October 2026 | Updated: 14:14 EDT, 9 October 2026 Russian government aircraft were left circling Moscow on Friday after a Ukrainian drone attack brought flights at all four of the capital's airports to a halt. Flight tracking data showed four planes from the presidential Special Flight Squadron were caught in the disruption as they returned from Turkmenistan, where Vladimir Putin had attended a summit. All four have since landed, but it remains unclear whether the Russian president was on board any of them. Moscow mayor Sergey Sobyanin said 15 Ukrainian drones had been shot down during the attack on the city.Residents reported explosions before flights were suspended at Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports.Russia's aviation regulator introduced the restrictions at around 3.40pm local time, with the disruption lasting roughly six to seven hours.Footage shared on social media showed passengers forming lengthy queues and sitting on the floor of departure lounges as they waited.More than 370 flights at Moscow's airports were delayed on Friday because of the 'threat' of Ukrainian drone attacks, according to Baza, a pro-Kremlin Telegram channel with close links to Russia's security services. Russia's aviation regulator introduced the restrictions at around 3.40pm local time, with the disruption lasting roughly six to seven hours. Footage shared on social media showed passengers forming lengthy queues and sitting on the floor of departure lounges as they waited. More than 370 flights at Moscow's airports were delayed on Friday because of the 'threat' of Ukrainian drone attacks, according to Baza, a pro-Kremlin Telegram channel with close links to Russia's security services Russian President Vladimir Putin steps off the plane upon his arrival at the airport, on October 8, 2026 in Turkmenbashi, TurkmenistanAnother 62 flights were cancelled.'Restrictions remain in place over the capital city, limiting the arrival and departure of aircraft,' the channel reported.Authorities in the Yaroslavl region, north-east of Moscow, also said small 'reconnaissance balloons' had been shot down.Operations to destroy the balloons were continuing the Moscow Times reported, citing the regional security ministry.Putin had travelled to Avaza in Turkmenistan for a Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) summit, where he met Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian.Russian airports have faced increasing disruption throughout the year as Ukraine has stepped up drone attacks, prompting repeated closures and flight delays.Estimates from aviation regulator Rosaviatsia indicate that the total number of long delays has risen by 20 per cent this year.Its figures cover commercial flights as well as charter, light, cargo and military aviation.