Iran war: An Emirates flight operating from Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV) to Dubai was forced to turn back mid-way on Monday (March 16) after the Dubai International Airport suspended all flight operations following a drone attack that set fire to a fuel tank near the airport’s perimeter.
The plane has since landed safely in Thiruvananthapuram and passengers are being taken to the terminal, according to the airport’s public relations office, as reported by ANI.
A drone attack on a fuel tank triggered a temporary shutdown at Dubai Airport
Dubai authorities confirmed they had brought the fire under control by Monday afternoon. No injuries were reported.
“A drone incident near Dubai International Airport hit one of the fuel tanks,” Dubai’s media office said on X. Road and tunnel links to the airport were temporarily closed by police and Emirates suspended all departures from Dubai.
A number of arrivals were diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport, the city’s secondary hub, the Dubai Media Authority added. Authorities have not specified when normal operations are expected to resume.
The third incident at Dubai airport since Iran launched attacks in the Persian Gulf
Monday’s attack is the third targeting Dubai airport since Iran launched its campaign of missile and drone attacks on Gulf states following the February 28 US and Israeli attack on Tehran.
Monday’s strike makes Dubai, one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, a recurring flashpoint for the widening conflict.
On March 11, two drones crashed near an airport that had already been damaged the night before the conflict began during a large-scale overnight Iranian attack in the Persian Gulf region.
Iranian Attacks on Gulf States: Civilian Infrastructure in the Crosshairs
Tehran described its attacks as targeting the United States’ military presence in the region. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq, Jordan, and Turkey host US military installations.
However, Iran’s campaign hit civilian infrastructure, including airports, hotels and ports, rather than military installations themselves. The Gulf Arab states have now suffered more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since the start of the Iran war, with targets ranging from United States diplomatic missions and military bases to critical oil infrastructure as well as residential and commercial properties.
The UAE bore a disproportionate share of the attacks. Following the normalization of relations with Iran’s main adversary, Israel, in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, the UAE was a particularly prominent target. However, all Arab Gulf states were affected and all formally condemned Iran’s actions.
Global aviation is in turmoil as Middle Eastern airspace remains largely closed
The wider conflict, framed as a US-Israeli war against Iran, has sent shockwaves through global aviation. Flights across the region have been canceled, rescheduled or diverted en masse, with most of the Middle East’s airspace remaining closed due to ongoing fears of missile and drone incursions.
The crisis has also driven up jet fuel prices, adding to the pressure on airlines already operating on disrupted routes. IniGo has already announced high fares amid rising fuel prices.
What TRV passengers can expect
Passengers on board the diverted Emirates flight are being accommodated at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport as the situation in Dubai unfolds. Passengers with onward connections via Dubai are advised to follow updates directly from Emirates and the airport.
