Increasing drone attacks and security concerns in Russian airspace have opened the door to a new crisis for many international airlines, led by Turkish Airlines (THY). Technical intervention requests, particularly at busy airports like St. Petersburg, have disrupted international flight operations.
In recent days, some foreign airline aircraft landing in Russia have faced unusual demands, such as the removal and detailed inspection of technical components. Aviation experts highlight that these practices violate international aviation regulations and pose serious safety risks.
The crisis escalated during a Turkish Airlines flight to St. Petersburg. Russian authorities requested the disassembly and inspection of the aircraft’s technical parts. However, the THY crew rejected this request on the grounds that it would endanger passenger safety and decided to return the aircraft to Istanbul. Aviation circles viewed this decision as correct and necessary from a flight safety perspective.
The problem is not limited to Turkish Airlines. Similar extreme security measures are being imposed on aircraft operated by other foreign airlines landing in Russia. Passengers are being kept on planes for hours, sent back without entering terminals, and some equipment is searched under the pretext of being “potential bomb components.” Footage shared on social media shows passengers under stress and facing significant hardship.
According to official data:
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485 flights have been cancelled,
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88 flights have been diverted to different airports,
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More than 1,900 flights have experienced significant delays.
In total, 43,000 tickets have been cancelled, and approximately 94,000 passengers have been placed in temporary hotels. Catering costs alone have reached 354,000 rubles, and the total financial loss is estimated to be in the millions of dollars.
Experts warn that Russia’s increasingly strict security approach could push civil aviation into a new diplomatic flashpoint. Russian authorities have yet to issue any official statement.
