An incident involving a drone striking a fuel tank near Dubai’s airport led to the cancellation of several flights by a major airline. Emirates announced that it plans to resume operations with a limited schedule after 10 am local time on Monday, March 16, with some flights from the day’s schedule already canceled.
The disruption followed the temporary closure of Dubai International Airport and the suspension of all flight activities due to a drone hitting a fuel tank, causing a fire. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, triggered by joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and subsequent retaliatory actions by Iran, has disrupted oil flow from the region and created disruptions in air travel.
Emirates informed affected customers about flight cancellations and provided guidance on rebooking options. Passengers were advised to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport and were given the flexibility to amend bookings and rebook flights online within 72 hours of the original departure date. The airline pledged to provide updates as the situation evolves.
According to the Dubai Media Office, flights to select destinations have resumed with limited operations by Emirates Airline after a temporary halt and some flight cancellations. The incident involving the drone striking the fuel tank early Monday prompted the suspension of flights until the situation was under control.