Pegasus Airlines, the largest private airline in Turkey, has canceled several flights to Moscow and turned back at least two aircraft heading to Russia on Tuesday night, shortly after President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russian airspace is unsafe due to Ukrainian drone operations.
Passengers reported waiting over 10 hours after Pegasus suspended multiple flights to Russia on Tuesday night, citing „airspace conditions.” Two aircraft already flying over Europe turned back to Turkey, while dozens of flights were canceled following drone attacks during the night and temporary restrictions imposed at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow.
Russian Telegram channels Ostorozhno Novosti and Post, cited by Kyiv Post, addressed these disruptions, quoting passenger reports and flight monitoring data.
However, Pegasus has not publicly confirmed that Zelensky's statement was the basis for this decision, the Ukrainian publication noted.
Which Pegasus flights were affected
At least three Pegasus flights bound for Moscow were canceled or turned back to Turkey, while the Russian media reported dozens of canceled flights between the two countries.
- Flight PC1576, departing from Antalya, turned back after entering Lithuanian airspace.
- Flight PC1521, departing from Izmir, also changed its route over Europe. Flight monitoring data indicated that the September 1 flight from Izmir to Moscow was redirected back to Izmir.
- Flight PC1456 from Bodrum to Vnukovo Airport in Moscow was canceled before takeoff. Passengers stated that the departure was scheduled for 00:05, but the flight was canceled during boarding. The cancellation was also displayed on Bodrum Airport's departure board.
Some passengers of flight PC1456 said they waited over 10 hours and were provided accommodation until noon, but without a definite departure time communicated to them.
"We don't know what to expect. The Turkish side prohibits departures," airline representatives stated, according to Ostorozhno Novosti.
Another passenger told Post that the plane she was on was already heading towards Russia when it changed course.
"We tried to fly to Russia last night, but halfway through the flight, the plane turned back, and we returned to base," she said.
Russian publication Moskvich Mag reported that by Wednesday morning, dozens of flights had disappeared from airport schedules. The affected routes connected Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Samara with the cities of Istanbul, Bodrum, Dalaman, Izmir, and Antalya.
As of Wednesday, Pegasus has not announced a general suspension of services to Russia. The company's website dedicated to international flight status still indicated the operation of several routes to Russia, while for others, new flight dates were yet to be announced.
Effects of Zelensky's Warning
The timing fueled speculation among passengers and in the Russian press, yet Pegasus has not officially linked the cancellations to Zelensky's statement.
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned airlines, insurers, and foreign governments that Russia's airspace will become "effectively closed" due to Ukrainian drone attacks.
Zelensky clarified that Ukraine does not threaten civilian aviation, but operators flying to Moscow, St. Petersburg, or other major Russian airports must consider the risk posed by drones, as reported by Kyiv Independent.
"Today we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, everyone who still uses Russia's major airports – Russia's sky is becoming completely dangerous," Zelensky conveyed.
"Although Russian authorities do not report this as they should, Russian airspace will be effectively closed," added the Ukrainian president.
Zelensky maintained that the situation is a consequence of the war initiated by Russia against Ukraine. He also referred to Tuesday's Russian attacks, during which 12 people were killed and 21 others were injured in Kiev and the Kiev region.
Ukraine has intensified its attacks on targets in Russia, including through an operation in July – during which Russian officials claimed over 400 drones targeted the Moscow region – as well as repeated strikes on Russian industrial facilities in August.
Approximately 80 flights were canceled or delayed at Moscow airports on Tuesday evening due to drone threats, according to Ostorozhno Novosti. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced that starting at 07:00, air defense systems intercepted 14 drones heading towards the capital.
T.D.