The situation in the Middle East has rapidly deteriorated amid the Israel-Iran war, with effects felt from Dubai to India. A drone attack occurred near Dubai’s iconic landmark, the Burj Khalifa. As a precaution, the Burj Khalifa was evacuated and its lights were turned off. Following the attack, flight operations at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum Airport were suspended until further notice. Several countries temporarily closed their airspace, impacting flights worldwide. In India, Air India and IndiGo cancelled or diverted several flights to the Middle East. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also advised airlines to avoid the airspace of 11 countries. Passengers have been advised not to travel to the airport and to consult their airlines for the latest flight schedule updates. Passengers have been advised to avoid the airport and to contact their airlines directly for further information. The UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait temporarily closed their airspace, forcing airlines to cancel, reroute, or suspend services as a precaution. Air India stated, “We are monitoring.” Air India stated that it will continue to assess the security environment for its flight operations and will adjust operations as needed. According to information on the flight tracking website Flightradar24.com, the flight, operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft, remained in the air for more than five hours and the airline decided to return after entering Saudi Arabian airspace. Air India also apologized for the inconvenience caused to passengers due to this sudden situation. Meanwhile, IndiGo stated that it is closely monitoring regional updates related to Iran and its airspace. For updates on the conflict, please read the live blog below…
