Russian Drone Incursion Delays President Zelensky's Flight
A Russian drone entering Moldovan airspace caused a delay to President Volodymyr Zelensky's flight between Moldova and Norway. While reports confirm the airspace closure, there is disagreement regarding the proximity of the drone to the aircraft.
First reported 4 days ago · latest update 4 days ago
A plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was delayed by a Russian drone as he prepared to fly to attend a state funeral in Oslo, Moldovan and Norwegian authorities say.
Zelensky and his wife Olena were on the jet at Chisinau, Moldova's capital, ahead of Wednesday's funeral of Norway's King Harald V when the unmanned aircraft crossed over the Moldovan border.
The drone prompted an immediate airspace shutdown and Zelensky's plane was left on the runway for around an hour before it could take off.
The flight was only authorised after it was confirmed the drone had come down 160km (100 miles) away. Asked by reporters on Thursday, the Kremlin said there had been no threat to the jet.
Zelensky's plane had been due to take off at around 16:30 (14:30 GMT) from Chisinau International Airport.
But Moldovan government spokesman Dumitru Ciorici told the BBC that Moldova had closed its airspace after noticing a Russian drone had entered it from the direction of Ukraine.
"Three departures and four arrivals were delayed as a result," he added.
"After 17:20 (15:20 GMT), the authorities confirmed that the drone had come down and exploded... some 160 kilometres from Chisinau International Airport."
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Russian drone incursion delays Zelensky flight
The unmanned aircraft entered Moldovan airspace on Tuesday afternoon as the plane was on the runway.
4 days agoRussian Drone Incursion Delayed Zelensky Flight to Oslo, Moldova Says
An airspace closure delayed the Ukrainian leader’s trip between Moldova and Norway, officials said. They did not confirm a claim by Norway’s prime minister that a drone had “almost hit” the plane.
4 days ago · Francesca Regalado and Lynsey Chutel