CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — A flight that was scheduled to carry Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from Moldova to Norway earlier this week was delayed when authorities closed Moldova's airspace because of a drone incursion, a government spokesperson said.
Moldovan police said a Russian drone crashed on Tuesday in a sunflower field on the outskirts of a village in the district of Riscani, which caused four fires to break out but no injuries.
Government spokesperson Dumitru Ciorici said on Wednesday that Moldova had closed its airspace Tuesday afternoon to protect aircraft flying over the country at the time. The closure delayed three departures, including the flight carrying Zelenskyy.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre told broadcaster NRK that Zelenskyy's plane "was nearly hit by a drone as it took off from Moldova" on its way to Oslo for King Harald V's funeral. Zelenskyy arrived in Oslo on Tuesday and met Støre to discuss potential support for Ukraine's air defenses before attending the king's funeral on Wednesday.
Moldovan authorities confirmed the drone came down and exploded 160 kilometers (100 miles) from Chisinau International Airport. The airspace restrictions were lifted and Zelenskyy's plane took off later than scheduled.

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