The Dutch airline KLM suspended all flights from Amsterdam to Russia on Saturday with immediate effect. Two machines were already shortly before their destination airports near Moscow and St. Petersburg and were instructed by the management to turn back.

Flight KL903, operated by PH-BXR (Boeing 737-900), was scheduled to fly from Amsterdam to Sheremetyevo. The medium-haul jet was already in Russian airspace near the capital. Then the captain received the instruction from the company headquarters and he turned back.

Flight KL1395, operated by PH-BCH (Boeing 737-800), was also affected. The machine should fly from the Dutch capital to St. Petersburg-Pulkovo. The captain was informed by the management via Estonia that Russia was no longer served. The medium-haul jet then turned back immediately.

KLM issued a special press release. Among other things, it states that the Russian Federation will no longer be flown to with immediate effect. Machines that were already in the air were instructed to turn around and head for the Amsterdam-Schiphol home base. The background is also that the government of the Netherlands has decided to ban Russian airlines and aircraft in connection with the Russian Federation. As "revenge" Moscow issued a comparable ban.