Gelendzhik Airport and Sochi Airport in southern Russia have returned to normal operations following the removal of temporary airspace restrictions.
The Federal Air Transport Agency, known as Rosaviatsia, confirmed that safety restrictions on the reception and dispatch of aircraft at both Black Sea locations had been lifted, Russian news agency TASS reported. In an official statement, Rosaviatsia confirmed that both facilities were once again accepting and departing flights as scheduled.
The temporary suspensions had been introduced following widespread airspace disruptions across Russian territory caused by intensive drone activity. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin stated earlier that air defense systems had repelled what he described as the most massive drone attack to date, with 450 drones intercepted on the approach to the capital city.
The safety measures resulted in widespread flight diversions and delays across the domestic aviation network. Representatives of Moscow airports said that more than 30 flights were unable to land at airports serving the capital due to the temporary security restrictions put in place during the incidents.
Regional resort hubs and aviation authority
Sochi and Gelendzhik are key tourist destinations situated along the Black Sea coast in Russia's southern Krasnodar Krai region. Sochi International Airport serves as one of Russia's largest regional transit hubs, processing millions of passengers annually for vacation travel, while Gelendzhik Airport handles domestic regional transport along the Black Sea shoreline.
Rosaviatsia functions as the primary executive body responsible for supervising civil aviation, airport infrastructure, and air traffic control across the Russian Federation. The regulatory agency routinely enforces temporary flight restrictions and airspace closures to protect civil aircraft when potential security risks are identified.
International drone alerts
The flight disruptions in southern Russia coincide with security incidents involving unmanned aerial vehicles at commercial airports elsewhere in Europe. On September 19, Findel Airport in Luxembourg halted all aviation operations over the potential presence of drones in the Grand Duchy's airspace. Authorities at the European facility stated that it was not known what specific type of drones caused the disruption.
