Moscow Airport Blackout: Video from Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo

by Jordan Yerman | December 30, 2010 at 09:51 am

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'Hell in Moscow Airport': Delays, Blackouts, Crowds

Youtube user advocamhd has been documenting the chaos at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport (DME) with a series of videos. Domodedovo suffered what is being called the worst meltdown in 15 years, including epic traffic jams, canceled flights, and even a power outage. Fights broke out between passengers, and between passengers and airport staff.

The Russian government will investigate Domodedovo's handling of the delays, and Sheremetyevo Airport (SVO) isn't off the hook either, with several legal complaints filed against the secondary airport. (Angry passengers at Sheremetyevo Airport)

At Sheremetyevo, angry passengers shouted "negative" slogans against Aeroflot. Employees of the airline, including women, were "beaten" by angry passengers, spokeswoman Irina Danenberg said.

An estimated 20,000 tourists faced delays already reaching up to two days and counting during the busiest winter travel period ahead of the New Year's holiday. Passenger crowded into Russia's busiest airport, Domodedovo, faced power outages and a smell of sewage, while shortages of deicing fluid at Sheremetyevo delayed OAO Aeroflot and other SkyTeam flights, leading to scuffles between passengers and airline employees.