Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Drone Alert Delays Zelenskiy’s Departure From Moldova for Norway
A plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was leaving Moldova for Norway.
Moldova temporarily closed its airspace after officials reported Russian drones nearby.
One drone landed in a field and started a fire.
Another drone flew into Romania.
The closure delayed several flights, including Zelenskiy’s departure.
Moldova said the plane was allowed to take off after the drone’s landing was confirmed.
Norway’s prime minister said the plane had nearly been hit by a drone.
Zelenskiy later attended the funeral of Norway’s King Harald V in Oslo.
Moldova temporarily closed its airspace after officials reported two Russian drones entering it.
A plane carrying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to Norway was delayed during the closure.
One drone landed in a field north of Moldova’s capital and caused a fire; another entered Romanian airspace.
Moldova said three departures and four arrivals were delayed, and cleared Zelenskiy’s aircraft after confirming the drone had landed.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said Zelenskiy’s plane had nearly been struck by a drone, while Moldova did not provide that detail.
- Who
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Moldovan authorities, and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere were central to the incident.
- What
- A drone alert temporarily closed Moldovan airspace and delayed Zelenskiy’s departure for Norway.
- When
- The airspace closure and delayed departure occurred on Tuesday; the report was published on September 9, and Zelenskiy attended the funeral on Wednesday.
- Where
- The incident occurred in Moldova, with one drone later entering Romanian airspace; Zelenskiy was traveling to Oslo, Norway.
- Why
- Moldova closed its airspace after officials reported that two Russian drones had entered it.
Moldovan Account
Norwegian Account
What happened near the aircraft
Moldovan Account
A Moldovan government spokesperson said the aircraft was cleared for take-off once authorities established that a Russian drone had come down on Moldovan territory.
Norwegian Account
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said Zelenskiy’s plane had nearly been hit by a drone as it was about to take off, without identifying his source or the drone’s distance from the aircraft.
Scale of the disruption
Moldovan Account
Moldova reported that the airspace closure delayed three departures and four arrivals.
Norwegian Account
Norway’s account emphasized the direct danger to Zelenskiy’s aircraft rather than the broader flight delays.
- Flights affected
- Three departures and four arrivals were delayed while Moldovan airspace was closed.
- Drones reported
- Moldovan officials said two Russian drones entered the country’s airspace.
- First drone
- It landed in a field north of the capital and triggered a fire.
- Second drone
- It continued into Romanian airspace.
- Zelenskiy’s destination
- Oslo, Norway, where he attended the funeral of King Harald V.
- Moldovan response
- The country’s airspace was closed temporarily, and Zelenskiy’s aircraft was cleared for take-off after the drone’s landing was established.
- Norwegian account
- Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said Zelenskiy’s plane had nearly been struck by a drone.