Drone strike disrupts ops at Dubai airport; landing suspended, flights cancelled

Flight operations at Dubai International Airport were disrupted for several hours on Monday after a drone strike triggered a fire near a fuel storage facility, prompting authorities to suspend landing permissions and forcing several airlines to cancel or reschedule flights.

Dubai’s main aviation hub temporarily halted operations in the early hours of March 16 after the incident occurred near the airport’s fuel facility. Officials later confirmed that no injuries were reported.

However, even after the fire was contained and limited operations resumed in the afternoon, authorities issued a fresh advisory suspending landing permissions for aircraft operating into Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport until further notice in view of the prevailing regional situation. The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority said the decision was taken “in the interest of the safety of airlines, crew, passengers, employees and the public”.

The disruption affected several international carriers and added pressure on the West Asia's busiest aviation hub at a time when air traffic in the region is already strained amid the ongoing tensions involving the US, Israel and Iran.

Airlines operating between India and Dubai cancelled multiple flights following the development. Air India and Air India Express cancelled all their services to and from Dubai for the day. The airline said affected passengers would be offered the option to reschedule their travel for a later date or receive a full refund without additional charges.

Air India Express said its ad-hoc flights to other destinations in the United Arab Emirates, including Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah, continued to operate as scheduled.

IndiGo also issued an advisory to passengers travelling on Dubai routes. “As per the latest update issued by Dubai airport authorities, landing permissions for aircraft operating into DXB have been suspended until further notice in view of the prevailing situation in the region,” the airline said on X.

The airline asked passengers travelling to or from Dubai to check the status of their flights before leaving for the airport, adding that notifications were being sent to keep customers informed about schedule changes.

The incident comes at a time when aviation routes across West Asia have already been facing disruptions due to regional tensions, forcing airlines to reroute several long-haul flights and adjust schedules.

Separately, an Air India flight travelling from John F Kennedy International Airport to Indira Gandhi International Airport made a precautionary diversion to Shannon Airport early Sunday after a suspected technical issue.

The aircraft landed safely at Shannon Airport at around 4.30 am local time. The airline said all passengers and crew members were safe and the aircraft was undergoing detailed technical checks in accordance with standard safety procedures.