By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-09 21:35:52 | Updated at 2026-10-09 22:25:15
1 hour ago
Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin officials were reportedly "stuck" in their aircraft after a drone attack on Moscow.
A fleet of four planes said to be carrying the Russian President and his team were forced to circle around the capital after several airports were closed.
According to FlightRadar data, President Putin was unable to touch down in Russia following a trip to Turkmenistan.
Russian publication EADaily reported just after 2pm that he was flying back to Moscow aboard an aircraft from the "Rossiya Special Flight Squadron" after leaving Turkmenbashi International Airport.
Hours later, EADaily reported that the aircraft was unable to land in Moscow because of the drone threat.
President Putin had attended two summits and held meetings with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedow and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during the trip.
FlightRadar imaging of the aircraft shows the pilot haplessly circling much of the city’s skyline before at least three attempts to land.
The cause of the disruption is said to have been triggered by Ukrainian drones and "small balloons" over Moscow.
Vladimir Putin left 'stuck on plane' as Ukraine launches blitz on Moscow
REUTERS
At least one of the Moscow planes was then diverted to St Petersburg.
Reports suggest Mr Putin was on board one of the planes, although it remains unclear which one.
The other planes in the Russian leader's entourage landed safely in Moscow, reports have said.
Other civilian planes in the airspace were diverted, and all four major Moscow airports, Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky, were closed.
At least 370 flights were delayed and some 62 cancellations rocked the major airspace disruption.
Plane passengers in Moscow recalled hearing blasts before the planes were stopped from landing at Vnukovo, Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Zhukovsky airports.
Footage shared online showed long queues of passengers waiting at terminals for the suspension of flights to end.
As the fleet of planes approached Moscow, mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed 15 drones had been shot down in the airspace.
He confirmed authorities imposed flight restrictions at all four of the city's airports at around 3.40pm local time.
On Monday, Russian air defences intercepted nearly 900 Ukrainian drones over multiple regions, as well as the occupied Crimean Peninsula and the Sea of Azov, the Defence Ministry in Moscow confirmed.
Ukraine’s domestically developed long-range drones and missiles have increasingly allowed Kyiv to strike deep into Russian soil territory.
It has hit targets as far east as the Urals and Siberia.
