Pegasus and flydubai divert flights after Ukraine warning on Russian airspace

Three Pegasus Airlines aircraft bound for Russia turned around on Wednesday, September 2, shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued an unusually direct warning about the safety of Russian airspace. Flights PC1456 from Bodrum, PC1521 from Izmir, and PC1576 from Antalya, all headed to Moscow, returned to their departure airports. Pegasus also cancelled additional services to the Russian capital.

Flydubai likewise diverted flights, according to the report. Other carriers continued flying for the time being.

Zelenskyy said Russian airspace was becoming "completely unsafe" and spoke directly to airlines, insurers, and those still using major Russian airports. Ukraine does not threaten civil aviation or civilian aircraft generally, he said, but drones would be present in Russian airspace and that must be taken into account.

The Russian defence ministry said 130 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed over eleven Russian regions and annexed Crimea between the evening of September 1 and the morning of September 2. Drones were also reported in the Moscow region.

Authorities imposed temporary restrictions on takeoffs and landings at Moscow's Vnukovo and Domodedovo airports. Russian media reported about 77 delayed or cancelled flights at three capital airports.