DUBAI, UAE — In the past few minutes, the skies over the United Arab Emirates descended into chaos as a salvo of Iranian ballistic missiles and drones targeted the region, forcing inbound international flights into emergency holding patterns and immediate diversions. A loud bang has been heard in the past hour.
The escalation comes just as major carriers, including Emirates and Etihad, were attempting a limited resumption of “exceptional” repatriation flights to assist thousands of travelers stranded by the ongoing conflict between Iran and US-Israeli forces.
A380s Caught in the Crossfire
Among the aircraft affected was an Airbus A380 from London Heathrow (LHR), which was forced to hold as air defense systems were activated. Flight tracking data showed multiple wide-body aircraft, including an Emirates flight from Mumbai (EK8), performing several loops over the Gulf of Oman.
Global Travel in Paralysis
The regional war has now forced the cancellation of over 11,000 flights since the weekend, affecting more than 1 million passengers.
| Airline | Operational Status (as of March 3, 2026) |
| Emirates | Regularly scheduled flights suspended; limited repatriation only. |
| Etihad | Suspended until Wednesday at the earliest; limited evacuation flights. |
| Qatar Airways | All flights grounded; Doha airspace remains closed. |
| British Airways | Monitoring situation; massive disruptions to LHR-DXB routes. |
The U.S. State Department has ordered the departure of non-emergency government personnel and their families from the UAE, citing the high risk of missile and drone attacks.
