Helsinki has temporarily authorized the landing of a Russian flight
Helsinki Airport temporarily allowed a Russian flight bound for St. Petersburg to land. According to reports, the decision was made on May 20 due to the closure of airspace over St. Petersburg amid an air raid alert and airport operational restrictions. After a brief pause, the flight was to continue its route or wait for flights to resume.
This was reported by the Finnish Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard’s announcement states that on the night of May 20, a Russian passenger plane flying from Egypt to St. Petersburg received permission to land at Vantaa Airport due to the closure of the airport at its destination.
“Passengers and crew members did not leave the plane. The Coast Guard ensured border security. The plane was able to continue its flight later that night,” the statement noted.
Russian news outlets, including the local media outlet Fontanka, reported that an alert was declared in the Leningrad Oblast during the night of May 20—first at midnight, and later after 4:30 a.m.—prompting Pulkovo Airport to suspend flight arrivals and departures. The first nighttime alert lasted over an hour; the second lasted until approximately 8 a.m.
As a reminder, earlier a drone struck a building on Mosfilmovskaya Street in Moscow. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirmed the attack and reported that there were no casualties. Meanwhile, drones were also spotted over Samara.
As a reminder, in Tuapse, residents were urged to evacuate following a drone attack (video).
