Moscow's four airports closed again as drones approach capital

All four airports serving Moscow stopped accepting and dispatching aircraft on the afternoon of 23 October 2026, as Russian air defences engaged drones approaching the capital, according to AeroTime. It was the second time in two days that all four airports had been closed, affecting flights to, from and via Moscow.

What happened

AeroTime reports that Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) announced restrictions at Sheremetyevo (SVO), Domodedovo (DME), Vnukovo (VKO) and Zhukovsky (ZIA) in a notice published at 14:05 Moscow time (11:05 UTC), citing flight safety. The full closure followed partial measures: Vnukovo and Domodedovo had been handling flights only with clearance from the relevant authorities since 12:55 and 13:00 Moscow time respectively.

At 16:43 Moscow time, Rosaviatsiya said Vnukovo and Domodedovo had resumed accepting and dispatching flights under that clearance regime. As of that notice, no change had been announced at Sheremetyevo or Zhukovsky.

Disruption at Sheremetyevo and to Emirates

Shortly before 15:00 Moscow time, Sheremetyevo's press service declared an air raid alert and directed passengers to shelters. The airport said access to the secure airside areas of all terminals was restricted, and that staff had moved passengers into shelters, including those from aircraft parked on the airfield.

The disruption also affected an Emirates Airbus A380 operating flight EK133 from Dubai to Moscow Domodedovo. AeroTime says Flightradar24 data showed the aircraft circling over Russia's Penza region, southeast of Moscow, while awaiting clearance to continue.

At 15:19 Moscow time, Rosaviatsiya said extra staff had been deployed at the terminals and airlines were adjusting schedules. It noted that federal aviation rules, known as FAP-82, require carriers to provide passengers on delayed flights with refreshments and meals and, for longer delays, hotel accommodation.

Context: repeated closures

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that air defences had destroyed nine drones flying toward the city by 13:39 Moscow time, with further interceptions after the airports closed, AeroTime says. These claims could not be independently verified. An overnight attack had involved 155 drones flying toward the Moscow region, according to Sobyanin, with five downed on approach to the capital.

Rosaviatsiya notices show all four airports were also restricted on 22 October 2026, from 00:38 Moscow time at three airports, extended to Sheremetyevo at 02:44, and lifted at 05:19. They also faced overnight restrictions from 15 to 16 October. AeroTime notes that these disruptions follow a 1 September 2026 statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warning airlines that Russian airspace was becoming unsafe.

What this means for travellers

• Check your flight status with the airline before heading to any Moscow airport, as schedules were being adjusted.
• Expect delays, holding patterns or diversions on flights to and from Moscow, as seen with EK133.
• Under the Russian rules cited by Rosaviatsiya, carriers must provide meals and, for longer delays, hotel accommodation to passengers on delayed flights.
• Connections via Moscow may be missed; contact your airline about rebooking.

It is not yet clear when Sheremetyevo and Zhukovsky will reopen, or whether further closures will follow.

Sources: AeroTime