Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest international airport, suspended all flight operations Monday after a drone strike ignited a fuel storage tank in the airport’s vicinity, authorities confirmed — dealing a fresh blow to travelers transiting through one of aviation’s most critical global hubs.
The Dubai Media Office confirmed that the incident involved a fuel storage tank near the airport, and that civil defense teams were immediately deployed to the scene. Officials reported no injuries.
Authorities reported damage to fuel tanks as a result of the strike, forcing aircraft already airborne to circle outside the airport while emergency teams responded. Some inbound flights diverted to the Dubai World Central airport, while aircraft further out were sent to alternate airfields, according to Flightradar.
Emirates announced a temporary suspension of all flights to and from Dubai. The carrier, which has been operating at roughly 60 percent of its usual capacity in recent days, did not immediately provide a timeline for resuming service.
Before the strike, a warning attributed to Iran’s Media Operations Center circulated online, telling residents to leave specific parts of Dubai on the grounds that U.S. personnel were allegedly present there and that those areas could come under attack within hours.
Monday’s incident is the latest in a series of strikes on Dubai’s airport and broader infrastructure since the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran began on February 28. Earlier strikes and interception debris have hit parts of Dubai and the UAE, including one during the first Iranian launches that damaged Terminal 3 and injured several people.
The broader regional picture for travel remains severely disrupted. British Airways has suspended all flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha and Tel Aviv through the end of March.
For travel agents managing affected clients, authorities are emphasizing that passengers should not travel to the airport without direct, current confirmation from their airline, given how quickly the situation can shift. Emirates has warned travelers against sharing booking references or personal information publicly on social media, flagging a rise in scammers targeting disrupted passengers.
Related Stories
Middle East Flights Canceled: What Travel Agents Must Know
Does Travel Insurance Cover Weather Delays and Civil Unrest?
Source link
