Fire breaks out near Dubai airport after drone attack; flight operations suspended temporarily

A drone attack near the Dubai International Airport resulted in a massive fire that was contained with no injuries reported, however, the flights have been suspended temporarily, according to Dubai authorities. 

The Dubai Media Office in a post on X wrote, "A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) affected one of the fuel tanks."

It also said that the “situation remains under control, with no spread of the fire.”

Following the attack, Dubai has temporarily suspended all flights at Dubai International Airport as a precautionary safety measure, said the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.

"Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announces the temporary suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff. Travellers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates regarding their flights. Further updates will be announced through official channels as soon as they become available," the Dubai Media Office wrote on X.

In a post on X, Emirates Airlines also announced the temporary suspension of flights to and ​from Dubai. It cautioned  people not to visit the airport and added that Emirates will share updates when available. 

Reuters reported that there have been more ​than 2,000 missile and drone attacks on Gulf Arab states since the outbreak ‌of ⁠the US-Israel led military campaign on Iran on February 28, with targets including Gulf ​oil infrastructure, ​ports, airports, ⁠hotels and residential and office buildings.

Attacks prompt diversions

Drone and missile fire has regularly kept aircraft circling Dubai's ‌busy airport, heavily affecting Middle East tourism worth about $367 billion a year. Air freight rates have also surged as much as 70 per cent on ⁠some routes.

In a statement on X, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority flagged a "gradual resumption" of some flights to selected destinations, the Dubai Media Office said.

Emirates airline said ‌it expected to partially resume operations at 06:00 GMT after the attack, which prompted authorities to ‌divert some flights to the smaller Al Maktoum international airport.

A Reuters reporter on board an Emirates ‌plane from Rome to Dubai observed the disruption, as security concerns forced the aircraft to divert abruptly ‌when it came in to land early on Monday, going instead to the inland city of Al Ain.

The airline told passengers it planned to fly them back to Dubai as the airspace had re-opened. At one point it said it would arrange a ⁠bus for the 130-km (81-miles) ⁠road trip back to the coastal city.

On its website, Emirates said it had cancelled some flights scheduled for Monday, while sister airline flydubai also halted flights temporarily.

Air India and Air India Express said in a statement flights with Dubai had been cancelled for the day.

Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since February 28, with targets including US diplomatic missions and military bases but also key oil infrastructure as well as homes and offices.

The United Arab Emirates, which normalised relations with Iran's arch-foe Israel in 2020, has ​faced the brunt of the attacks. But all Gulf Arab states have been affected, and all have criticised ​Iran for the attacks.

On March 11, two ​drones fell near the international airport, which suffered damage on the first day of the conflict during an Iranian attack across Gulf states.

(With Reuters Photo)