05 June 2023 , 13:49
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A pensioner was left horrified after getting on the wrong flight home and instead ending up in Moscow.
Monika Nürnberg, 79, was supposed to board a plane which would take her back to her home Munich in Bavaria, southern Germany, but her plans were confounded by a sudden gate change.
The 79-year-old got confused and joined the wrong queue at Antalya Airport in Turkey by mistake, ending up in the heart of Russia and leaving Monika terrified.
Relations between the two countries are at a very low ebb due to the invasion of Ukraine, with Germany providing tanks and other military equipment to Russia's opponents.
Last week Russian President Vladimir Putin expelled hundreds of German civil servants, including diplomats, alongside teachers and other expats.
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Monika boarded a plane from Antalya to Moscow (NurPhoto via Getty Images)In response the German government pledged to close four of its five Russian consulates.
It was against such a tense backdrop that Monika discovered herself on a plane heading directly for the Russian capital.
Upon landing, she was then detained by Russian officials, and had to use a mobile phone translator app to explain what had happened.
After a gruelling 30-hour ordeal to get herself out of Russia, Monika finally arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, but it was too late for a connecting flight to Munich. With no other options, the German geriatric was then forced to spend a sleepless night on an uncomfortable airport bench.
Monika is now demanding compensation from the airline for the distress caused.
A spokesperson for Pegasus Airline - which operated the Antalya-Munich flight - said the elderly lady is to blame because she joined the wrong queue.
Meanwhile Turkish Airlines, whose plane Monika mistakenly boarded, has yet to explain how the mix-up occurred.
In the immediate aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine almost all air routes into the country were blocked off as airlines announced they would no longer be flying into the country.
The OAP was surprised to find herself in Moscow (Publicity Picture)Last August Wizz Air came under serious criticism after one of its offshoots restarted flights to Russia, with Wizz Air Abu Dhabi running the route from Abu Dhabi to Moscow at the end of 2022.
The budget airline - which was launched in Hungary - broke ranks with other carriers to start flying passengers to and from Russia.
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Flights to Russia from the UK and EU are banned, with the EU currently under some pressure to block all visas for Russian tourists.
Etihad, Emirates and FlyDubai are among the airlines operating to Russia from the UAE. Wizz Air responded to criticism of the policy on its social media account.
"Wizz Air Abu Dhabi is a national UAE carrier that operates in line with the UAE's national regulations and policies," the company has been replying to critical tweets.
"The airline is resuming its operation to Moscow to meet travel demand for passengers wishing to fly to and from Russia from the UAE capital. All UAE national airlines are currently operating direct flights to Russia.
"Wizz Air Hungary and Wizz Air UK are not currently operating flights to Russia."