Russian nationals hoping to get back before the country halts flights may be too late.

Officials stopped all incoming and outbound international flights starting at midnight on Friday to slow the spread of the coronavirus, widening the international flight restrictions implemented on March 27.

Citizens seeking to re-enter were the exception under the previous limitations.

The new regulations require Russians who are out of the country to apply to get back in via a special form that will be made available Saturday.

As of Wednesday, 25,000 Russians abroad had already contacted the government for help getting home as fewer flights have been made available, Russian officials said.

A Friday night flight to New York from Moscow erupted in chaos when the expanded ban unexpectedly went into play, according to US embassy officials in Moscow.

State-owned Russian news agency TASS said earlier the next flight to New York was scheduled for April 7.

With Post wires