[Wallace T.]

Are there still direct flights from the U.S. to Russia, given the effective low level conflict between the two nations? it may also be that the Dubai authorities tipped off their American counterparts of Ritter’s itinerary.

[Cloverfarm]

Not sure ... I think most people have to change planes in Paris or Frankfurt.

[billakay]

There are no direct flights at the present time. In fact, all US travel services have removed all Russian airports as destinations (you need to book either your entire itinerary or at least the leg into Russia via a foreign service). It is maddening.