U.S. says airspace ban for Russian airlines to begin at 9 p.m. EST

– The U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration said orders blocking Russian aircraft and airlines from entering and using all U.S. airspace take effect at 9 p.m EST Wednesday (0200 GMT Thursday). 

This includes passenger and cargo flights, and scheduled as well as charter flights. The Transportation Department said it was taking the action after it “was directed by President Biden in response to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine.”

The Transportation Department said Russian carriers and operators “with aircraft on the ground in the United States may request authority” to conduct flights “necessary for their aircraft to depart the United States.”

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)