On the night of September 3, a special air traffic management mode — the "Carpet" plan — was introduced at Moscow's Vnukovo and Sheremetyevo airports. According to the editorial team's calculations, schedule adjustments affected more than 120 flights: around 40 departures and over 80 arrivals. Passengers had already boarded several aircraft before both airports were switched to a restricted operating mode at 22:27 local time.
Massive UAV attack and the "Carpet" mode
According to Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin, on the evening of September 2 the air defense system shot down 9 drones heading toward the capital. By 00:27 on September 3, the city head reported 10 drones shot down. The "Carpet" plan in Russia is a special air traffic mode introduced during a serious threat, including during UAV attacks or the appearance of unidentified airborne objects. Once declared, civilian aircraft must immediately leave the designated zone or land, and airport operations may be fully restricted.
Scale of schedule disruptions
In total, adjustments at the two Moscow hubs affected more than 120 flights. Some departures were cancelled, and a significant number of arrivals were delayed. Passengers already on board were forced to wait on the ground until the restrictions were lifted. Such mass disruptions, observers note, are becoming increasingly common during periods of intensified drone attacks on Russian cities.
Official statements
Recall that on September 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russian airspace is becoming dangerous for civilian aviation due to the massive presence of Ukrainian drones. Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that the number of cancellations at Moscow airports had sharply increased after Zelenskyy's statement about "closing the sky" over Russia, with roughly 30 flights not taking off at that time. Thus, the scale of disruptions over the following 24 hours grew several times over.
Contradictory data
Sources disagree on the number of affected flights. According to the editorial team's calculations based on current data, more than 120 flights are involved (around 40 departures and over 80 arrivals). Meanwhile, a number of publications, including RBC-Ukraine, use the phrasing "more than 100 flights" in their headlines. Data on the number of drones shot down also differ: initially 9 were reported, then 10. The discrepancy may be explained either by the refinement of information as it arrives or by differences in counting methods. Exact final figures have not been confirmed by a single official source as of publication.
Context: Kyiv's statements and market reaction
These events are unfolding against the backdrop of Kyiv's statements about the systemic impact of drone activity on the safety of civilian aviation in the Russian Federation. For passengers, this means a higher risk of delays and cancellations, and for airlines — additional costs and logistics restructuring. Experts recommend that passengers check flight status in real time before departure and allow extra time for connections.
