Safety measures lead to temporary flight bans at Russia's Sochi and Kazan airports

Temporary restrictions have been implemented at two major Russian airports — Sochi and Kazan — due to safety concerns.

Starting at 05:00 Moscow time on December 27, Sochi Airport halted both incoming and outgoing flights.

According to Rosaviatsia, Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, this decision was made to ensure the safety of civil aviation, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

"To ensure the safety of civil aircraft flights, temporary restrictions were imposed on Sochi airport operations on Friday, December 27, at about 05:00 Moscow time," Rosaviatsia stated.

In response, airport crews, air traffic controllers, and other aviation services are taking necessary measures to maintain flight safety during the restriction period, the agency added.

Similarly, at 06:00 Moscow time, Kazan Airport also imposed temporary restrictions on flight operations. The airport is currently not accepting or dispatching flights. Rosaviatsia reiterated that all necessary actions are being taken by aviation services to guarantee the safety of air traffic.

The restrictions come shortly after a large-scale drone attack on Kazan on December 21. Six out of eight drones launched in the attack crashed into residential buildings, including two high-rise structures. The Russian Ministry of Defence reported that air defence forces successfully shot down three of the drones, while electronic warfare systems were used to suppress another three.

Tatarstan’s regional leader, Rustam Minnikhanov, revealed that three of the drones targeted defence-industrial facilities, while the remaining five aimed at residential areas. The attack highlights ongoing concerns over aviation security in the region.

 By Tamilla Hasanova