In the wake of a sharp increase in unauthorized drone flights in recent days, Moscow airports are taking additional measures to strengthen security, despite the highest level of security since late last year.
According to the Telegram Aviatorschina channel Additional briefings were held with Moscow airport staff. They have been asked to be extra vigilant on duty and report any unauthorized persons, vehicles, objects and unmanned aerial vehicles in the vicinity of airports immediately.
“To improve overall traffic (aviation) security at Sheremetyevo International Airport, heads of companies operating facilities at Sheremetyevo International Airport should hold unscheduled briefings with support staff to increase awareness in the performance of their duties. To be aware of the presence of unauthorized persons, vehicles and household items within the boundaries of Sheremetyevo International Airport, “Any unauthorized persons, vehicles, unmanned objects, unmanned aerial vehicles near the border of Sheremetyevo International Airport should be immediately reported to Sheremetyevo Security JSC, DAT JSC MASH staff or police officers,” the statement said.
Only Sunday at Vnukovo Airport Two reports were received from staff regarding drones. At half past eleven, the driver of the escort vehicle on the apron reported seeing the drone at the end of the runway. Then, an hour later, the missile controller reported an unidentified object flying over the control tower.
More incidents were reported by passengers and witnesses this week. Passengers of the Moscow-Makhachala flight Saw the drone while taking off from Vnukovo. The pilots of the Boeing 737-800 of the Popeda flight from Moscow to Makhachkala on Saturday morning reported that passengers noticed a drone on the port side during take-off from Vunukovo after boarding.
After receiving the report from Bobeta’s pilots, the air defense authorities were informed.
Another incident happened on Saturday. An Aeroflot pilot saw an unidentified object speeding toward him near St. Petersburg.. said the commander of an Airbus A321 flying from St. Petersburg to Moscow Unidentified white object ten minutes after takeoff from Pulgo. He sped toward the Aeroflot plane, a thousand meters above the engine. The pilot found it difficult to describe the shape of the object. At the same time, the object was not observed on the on-board collision warning system (TCAS) display in the cockpit, and air traffic controllers did not have any signs on the airport radar. All concerned authorities and services have been informed.
Earlier last week A passenger saw the drone as it landed in Sheremetyevo.
On May 4, an Aeroflot Boeing 737-800 was returning from Samara to Moscow. On landing in Sheremetyevo, one of the passengers Observed a drone flying near the plane through the window. He decided to inform airport security upon arrival. At the same time, the pilots of this plane did not see any drones. The passenger was unable to determine the exact location and altitude of the drone. Aeroflot said reports of an encounter between a plane and a drone have not been confirmed.
“Perhaps it was an optical illusion or more likely travelers imagined it [sic] drone,” the airline’s news service reported.
Source: Telegram