In the early hours of January 15, 2026 (local time), Emirates EK325 flight path was flagged amid extreme tensions in Iran.
The flight, en route from Seoul (ICN) to Dubai (DXB), reportedly performed a U-turn or significant diversion near the Iranian border, highlighting the extreme volatility currently gripping Middle Eastern airspace.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of “high-alert” status as tensions between the United States and Iran reach a breaking point.
Flight EK325, a Boeing 777-300ER (registered A6-EPD), was tracking its standard path toward Dubai when it started to circle over Turkmenistan, at Iranian’s border. While Emirates has not yet released an official manifest for the diversion, the timing coincides with a series of regional airspace closures and “Heightened Regional Uncertainty” warnings. The flight is now diverting to Islamabad.
A NOTAM issued by Iran is closing airspace to all flights except international flights to/from Iran with permission.
Other international flights to Jeddah and Kuwait City turned around over Turkmenistan’s airspace.
The diversion of commercial aircraft is often the first visible sign of imminent military activity. Several factors have contributed to the “strike-ready” posture currently seen in the region:
President Donald Trump has issued stern warnings to Tehran, demanding an end to the violent crackdown on nationwide anti-government protests. While he noted on Wednesday afternoon that the “killing is stopping,” the US military remains in a state of high readiness.
