MOSCOW, October 8. /TASS/. A plane flying from Istanbul to Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport landed at Minsk International Airport due to security restrictions, Vnukovo Airport told TASS.

"The flight from Istanbul was diverted to Minsk Airport, which served as an alternate airport," the source said. The plane was originally scheduled to land in Moscow at 6:30 p.m. Moscow time. Its estimated arrival time is now 9:55 p.m. Moscow time.

Vnukovo Airport earlier reported that 10 inbound flights had been diverted to alternate airports during the more than two hours that restrictions on aircraft arrivals and departures were in effect.

Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya) previously announced temporary restrictions on aircraft arrivals and departures at Moscow’s Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky airports. "The restrictions are necessary to ensure flight safety," the agency stressed. It has since reported that the restrictions on arrivals and departures at Vnukovo and Domodedovo have been lifted.

The agency also reported that Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport was handling arrivals and departures in coordination with the relevant authorities due to temporary restrictions on the use of airspace near the airport. "Flight schedules may be adjusted," Rosaviatsiya warned, adding that these measures were also introduced to ensure flight safety.