The situation in Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport, where thousands of passengers have become stranded since Saturday, is gradually heating up, an airport employee told RIA Novosti on Monday.
Severe freezing rain, which covered the entire territory of Central Russia over the weekend, has suspended many of the country's daily activities, causing serious power outages and disrupting the operations of public transportation and airports.
More than 200 flights have so far been postponed at Moscow's largest airports of Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo. The delays were caused by power outages and ice at Domodedovo and by de-icing aircraft at Sheremetyevo.
Several passengers scuffled in Sheremetyevo overnight, an eyewitness said. In another incident, according to him, dozens of passengers blocked the boarding of a plane bound for London demanding to meet with the management of Sheremetyevo. Police were forced to intervene in the growing uproar.
Passengers waiting for their flights to Prague are most exacerbated as the Russian air company Aeroflot has postponed the majority of the flights to the Czech capital.
All of the people stranded in Sheremetyevo are complaining about the management's negligence of the situation. Several people were left without food vouchers or places to sleep.
The situation at Domodedovo International Airport is also complicated as neither the airline companies, nor the airport authorities have given any information on the delayed or canceled flights. Two of Domodedovo's halls are still remaining without electricity or Internet access.
MOSCOW, December 27 (RIA Novosti)
