Sochi Airport Strands Hundreds as 'Carpet' Plan Snarls Turkish Getaways

Hundreds of Russian travelers bound for Turkish holidays faced a grueling ordeal at Sochi International Airport this weekend, stranded for over 30 hours as flight schedules collapsed. The disruption, reported by TourDom, stemmed from a security protocol known as 'Plan Carpet,' which halted air traffic from Friday afternoon until early Saturday morning.

During the 14-hour restriction, at least 15 aircraft were diverted to alternate airports across southern Russia. The ripple effect caused severe delays. By Saturday morning, planes meant to arrive the previous day were only just landing. An Azimuth Airlines flight from Istanbul touched down 16 hours late, while an IrAero service from Antalya was 18 hours behind schedule.

Outbound passengers suffered similar fates. An IrAero flight to Istanbul, originally set for Friday, departed Saturday evening. Another to Antalya was postponed by over 19 hours. Airport officials confirmed operations were at an intensified pace, handling 28 flights by mid-morning Saturday, yet ten aircraft remained at other airfields.

The 'Plan Carpet' measure is a recognized response to drone threat activity. Regional authorities had previously acknowledged drone attacks in the Krasnodar region, which caused widespread flight delays earlier in the week. Passengers described sleeping on terminal floors and enduring endless queues, their vacation plans indefinitely on hold.