A drone strike near Dubai International Airport (DXB) early this morning (16 MAR) temporarily halted flights across the UAE, but Emirates and Etihad Airways have since resumed limited operations from Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
The drone hit a fuel tank around 5:30 a.m. local time, igniting a large fire that sent thick black smoke into the air. Firefighters contained the blaze, and no injuries were reported.
“Some flights from today’s schedule have been cancelled. Affected customers will receive a cancellation notice and will be advised on reaccommodation options," Emirates said in an update. “Emirates expects to operate a limited schedule after 10:00 a.m. Dubai local time today.”
According to FlightAware, 139 flights at DXB have been cancelled in the past 24 hours.
Tomorrow’s schedule (17 MAR) and the rest of the week include Emirates flights to YUL (Montréal) and YYZ (Toronto), both departing in the wee hours of the morning. (Open Jaw tried booking; seats were available most days, though some economy class seats were sold out.)
Travellers are urged to check flight status on emirates.com before heading to DXB. To help travellers navigate disruptions, Emirates is offering greater flexibility. Passengers can now rebook flights online within 72 hours of their original departure. Changes can be made via “Manage Your Booking” on the Emirates app or by visiting its website.
Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways released a limited schedule for today as well, but not before an early‑morning flight took off to Toronto Pearson. Departing at 2:25 a.m. local time, the flight is on track to touch down at Pearson at about 10:18 a.m. EST.
According to FlightAware, cancelled flights from Zayed International Airport (AUH) number 25 over the past 24 hours.
Etihad's limited schedule for the rest of today includes departures to Bangkok, Barcelona, Frankfurt, New York, Paris, Vienna and Zurich. Passengers were advised not to go to the airport unless holding a confirmed booking or contacted directly.
Both airlines stressed that passenger and crew safety remains the highest priority, with schedules adjusted as conditions evolve. Travellers are being encouraged to stay updated via the Gulf News app.
