As the US-Israel war against Iran rages on, Emirates has announced the temporary suspension of all flights to and from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), urging passengers not to travel to the airport until further notice.
The suspension of flights comes after the Dubai media office earlier announced that a drone-related incident near the international travel hub had impacted one of the fuel tanks, causing a fire.
“Dubai Civil Defence teams have successfully contained the fire resulting from an impact on one of the fuel tanks in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport. No injuries have been reported.”
ALSO READ: ANC’s Lindiwe Zulu slams US: Trump can’t dictate who Iran chooses as leader
Precautions
The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announced the temporary suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff. Some flights were diverted to Al Maktoum Airport.
“Travellers are advised to contact their respective airlines for the latest updates regarding their flights. Further updates will be announced through official channels as soon as they become available.”
SA flights that may be affected
Flights to Johannesburg
As of 7am on Monday morning, flights EK761 and EK763 from Dubai to Johannesburg have no details, suggesting they are likely suspended.
However, flight EK765 leaving this afternoon is still listed as scheduled. This may change during the day, but travellers are encouraged to check with the airline.
Flights to Cape Town
Flights EK770 and EK771 to Cape Town are both listed as scheduled by Emirates, suggesting they may be in operation. This may change, and again, travellers are encouraged to check with the airline.
Flights to Durban
Flight EK776 from Durban to Dubai has no flight information for Monday evening’s trip, suggesting it is likely suspended.
This may change, and travellers are encouraged to check with the airline.
NOW READ: Sombre moods and missed flights: A South African’s crazy week in Europe amid the Middle East war