The aircraft with registration number RA-96020 was forced to circle due to a drone threat
An aircraft linked to the transport of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin was unable to land at Vnukovo Airport on October 9. The aircraft was performing a flight from Turkmenistan amid reports of a drone attack threat in the Moscow region. This was reported by Glavcom, according to the portal PromPolitInform.
The aircraft with the call sign RSD277, which was flying from Turkmenbashi, became blocked in the skies over the Russian capital. According to Flightradar24 data, the aircraft is an Il-96-300PU with registration number RA-96020, part of the Rossiya special flight detachment.
Airport operational disruptions
The situation involving the aircraft arose against the backdrop of an declared aerial threat and unmanned aerial vehicle activity. Due to restrictions imposed to ensure safety, airports in the Russian capital temporarily suspended or limited flight handling, resulting in delays for arrivals and departures.
Similar difficulties were experienced by the escort aircraft flying ahead of the presidential board. According to FlyRadar24, both aircraft were forced to perform holding patterns near Moscow until conditions allowed for a safe landing amid the restricted operation of aviation hubs.
Visit to Turkmenistan
Vladimir Putin’s return took place following the conclusion of a two-day trip to Turkmenistan. On October 8, the head of the Russian Federation arrived in Turkmenbashi to participate in international events, specifically the CIS Heads of State Summit and the Caspian Ecological Summit.
During the official part of the visit, the Russian delegation discussed issues of regional cooperation and ecological aspects of the Caspian Sea. However, after the conclusion of the talks, the security situation within the Moscow region itself made an unobstructed arrival at the destination airport impossible.
Illustrative photo: Dmitry Terekhov from Odintsovo, Russian Federation / CC BY-SA 2.0
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