One dead and others injured at Abu Dhabi and Dubai airports – as missile threat grounds flights
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One person has died and seven have been injured after an “incident” at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed airport, while four were also hurt at Dubai International – reportedly due to an overnight Iranian attack.
It comes as many flights in and out of the Middle East have been cancelled due to US missile attacks on Iran and subsequent counter strikes targeting American bases in the region.
A post on X by Abu Dhabi Airports said the incident “resulted in one fatality involving an Asian national and 7 injuries” – but did not give a cause and urged against “circulating rumours”.
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The Dubai incident left four staff with injuries and happened when a concourse sustained “minor damage”, according to the city’s media office.
Aviation sources told Reuters news agency one of the terminals had been damaged during an overnight Iranian attack.
Flights from both airports were grounded on Saturday as a precaution.
There was also a minor fire on the facade of the city’s iconic sail-shaped Burj al Arab hotel due to a drone interception.
“Civil Defence teams responded immediately and brought the incident under control. No injuries have been reported,” Dubai’s media office added on X.
Another luxury hotel in the city was also damaged by fire earlier on Saturday – again believed to have been caused by remnants from a falling missile.
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) has warned Britons in several Middle East countries to “immediately shelter in place” and to avoid travel to Israel and Palestine.
“Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities,” advised the FCDO.
It said it was “working around the clock” to support British nationals affected.
UK citizens are being urged to sign up to Register Your Presence and travel advice emails so the Foreign Office can send them information.
Thousands of Britons are potentially stuck due to the temporary closure of airspace and airports in countries such as the UAE and Qatar.
British Airways cancelled Saturday’s Dubai, Doha, Amman and Abu Dhabi services, as well as flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain up to 3 March.
A BA flight from London to Doha, Qatar‘s capital, was among dozens forced to turn around or divert mid-flight early on Saturday, according to flight tracking websites.
London Heathrow said “a small number of flights” had been cancelled or delayed.
Jets were avoiding Iran on Saturday, while UAE traffic also ground to a halt. Pic: Flightradar24
Its departures board on Saturday afternoon showed cancellations including an Emirates flight to Dubai, a Qatar Airways flight to Doha, and an Etihad service to Abu Dhabi.
A Gatwick spokesperson said it was also “expecting disruption to our Qatar and Emirates flights”.
Manchester Airport departures showed a Saturday night Emirates flight to Dubai had been scrapped as it shared a post advising people to check with their airline.
Wizz Air also confirmed flights between London Luton to Tel Aviv were suspended in both directions until 7 March but that “operational decisions will continue to be reviewed”.
Virgin Atlantic said journeys from destinations including India and the Maldives could take longer as the routes were being altered for safety reasons.
Many other large airlines have also paused flights to the Middle East, as well as some routes flying over the region, including Delta, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific and Turkish Airlines.
India’s airlines are also suffering serious disruption.
Its aviation ministry said more than 400 flights by domestic carriers had been cancelled on Saturday and a similar number were expected on Sunday.
Dubai airports at standstill
The worst disruption is likely to be caused by the grounding of flights at Dubai’s main airport, the world’s busiest for international traffic.
People jetting out for a winter break – and the thousands who change aircraft there – are set to have their plans upended after the UAE closed its airspace.
All flights at Dubai’s International, Dubai World Central (Al Maktoum) and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International have been suspended.
At least 90,000 people transfer every day in Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi on just three airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, according to analytics firm Cirium.
People in Dubai were earlier filmed running for shelter as air raid sirens sounded and witnesses told Reuters at least three big blasts were heard over the city.
A fire broke out near the entrance of the five-star Fairmont The Palm hotel after debris reportedly fell from an Iranian missile.
The fire at the Fairmont The Palm hotel. Pic: @alex_tfmg
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A Dubai airports statement called the closures an “exceptional precautionary measure”, while Emirates said safety was its “highest priority” as it halted flights.
“You have crews, planes and passengers stranded all over the world. It’s a massive logistical nightmare,” a Gulf airline source told Reuters.
Qatar’s international airport also suspended all services after the country’s airspace was locked down in case of more attacks from Iran.
People were earlier forced to run for cover as a missile – which was likely intercepted – tumbled out the sky and exploded in a residential area of Doha.
America’s largest regional air base, al Udeid, is near the city and Iran has deemed all US bases in the region as fair game.
