DUBAI, UAE — March 16, 2026 — Flight operations at Dubai International Airport (DXB) are facing significant disruption following an Iranian drone strike ignited a fire at a fuel storage tank near Terminal 3. The incident, part of an escalating regional conflict, forced the temporary closure of the world’s busiest international hub and triggered a wave of diversions across the Middle East.
Forced Flight Diversions
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 is showing several Emirates flights diverting to nearby airports to refuel before continuing to Europe or other destinations:
| Flight | Route | Diversion Airport |
| EK1 | Dubai – London (LHR) | Abu Dhabi (AUH) |
| EK31 | Dubai – London (LHR) | Al Maktoum (DWC) |
| EK75 | Dubai – Paris (CDG) | Jeddah (JED) |
| EK121 | Dubai – Istanbul (IST) | Al Maktoum (DWC) |
| EK131 | Dubai – Moscow (DME) | Abu Dhabi (AUH) |
| EK151 | Dubai – Copenhagen (CPH) | Jeddah (JED) |
| EK163 | Dubai – Dublin (DUB) | Abu Dhabi (AUH) |
| EK19 | Dubai – Manchester (MAN) | Al Maktoum (DWC) |
| EK73 | Dubai – Paris (CDG) | Abu Dhabi (AUH) |
| EK181 | Dubai – Brussels (BRU) | Al Maktoum (DWC) |
Emergency Response and Containment
The strike occurred around 4:00 AM local time, sending thick plumes of black smoke over the airfield. The Dubai Media Office confirmed that “a drone incident in the vicinity of DXB affected one of the fuel tanks.”
Dubai Civil Defence teams were deployed immediately and successfully contained the blaze within two hours. While the physical damage was localized and no injuries were reported, the proximity to Terminal 3—the primary base for Emirates—prompted authorities to suspend all takeoffs and landings as a “precautionary measure.”
