Fire near Dubai airport under control after drone attack, flights suspended
Some flights were diverted to the Al Maktoum International Airport, the Dubai media office said on X
Highlights:
- Police close airport road, tunnel towards airport
- Some flights diverted to Dubai's Maktoum airport
- Third incident at Dubai airport since Iranian attacks began
Dubai authorities brought under control today (16 March) a fire caused by a drone attack near the city's international airport that forced a temporary suspension of flights, though no injuries were reported, they said.
The US-Israel war against Iran has thrown global aviation into turmoil, with flights cancelled, rescheduled and rerouted, as most Middle East airspace stays shut over fears of missile and drone attacks, while the crisis sends fuel prices soaring.
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Today's incident is the third at the Dubai airport, one of the world's busiest international travel hubs, since Iran began its attacks on Gulf nations on 28 February, with strikes Tehran has said aim at the US presence in the region.
While the United Arab Emirates and Gulf countries such as Iraq, Jordan and Turkey, host US military facilities, Iran has used missiles and drones to target civilian facilities such as airports, hotels and ports.
"A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport affected one of the fuel tanks," the Dubai media office said on X.
Traffic was temporarily halted on road and tunnel links with the airport, police said, while the Emirates airline suspended flights with Dubai.
Some flights were diverted to the Al Maktoum International Airport, the Dubai media office said on X.
Authorities did not say when they expected flights to resume, however.
Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since 28 February, with targets including US diplomatic missions and military bases but also key Gulf 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 condemned Iran.
On 11 March, two drones fell near the Dubai international airport, which suffered damaged on the first day of the conflict during an overnight Iranian attack across Gulf states.
