Multiple countries in the Middle East temporarily closed their airspaces, impacting flights to and from the UAE. Two Flydubai flights bound for Amman, Jordan, and Tel Aviv, Israel, had to return to Dubai due to the closures.
The closures came amid rising tensions, with Iran launching an airborne attack on Israel in retaliation for an alleged strike on its Damascus consulate. Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways announced rerouting European and North American flights to avoid the closed airspaces over Israel, Jordan, and Iraq.
A spokesperson for Etihad Airways emphasized safety in a Khaleej Times report, stating, “Safety is always our highest priority, and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so.”
Flydubai also confirmed flight disruptions, stating, “We continue to closely monitor the situation and will make any amendments to our schedule accordingly.”
The situation escalated as Iran’s Revolutionary Guards launched a drone and missile attack on Israel, prompting precautionary closures of airspace by Israel, Iraq, and Lebanon. Egypt heightened air defenses, declaring maximum alert.
Kuwait Airways announced diverting flights away from “areas of tension” in response to the security situation in the region. Passengers are advised to check flight statuses on airline websites for updates.