Dubai Airport Temporarily Closed, Two Indonesian Aircraft Diverted
Two flights from Indonesia to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were diverted following the closure of airspace after drone debris fell in Dubai and surrounding areas, though there were no reported casualties among Indonesian nationals.
The Acting Head of Indonesian Citizens Protection at Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry, Heni Hamidah, reported that the Indonesian mission in the UAE received reports of drone fragments falling in the Dubai area on Monday (16 March). The fragments were discovered at several locations, including areas surrounding Dubai International Airport, and triggered a fire that caused temporary cessation of airport operations.
“Regarding Indonesian citizens, two Emirates airline flights from Indonesia bound for Dubai were affected by the landing diversion,” stated Heni in a statement on Tuesday (16 March).
The first flight, Emirates EK-359 from Jakarta carrying approximately 309 passengers, was diverted to Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. Meanwhile, flight EK-399 from Denpasar carrying approximately 300 passengers landed at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai.
“Thus far, there are no reports of Indonesian nationals who were casualties or requested assistance related to the incident,” Heni added.
She emphasised that the Indonesian mission in the UAE continued to monitor developments and coordinate with local authorities and airlines to ensure the safety of Indonesian citizens.
In addition to Dubai, reports of drone debris falling also came from the Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain regions.
The local authorities previously announced a temporary suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport as a precautionary measure following a fire at a fuel tank near the airport, which was suspected to have been triggered by a drone attack. There were no fatalities in the incident.
The highly dynamic geopolitical situation means flight schedules can change within hours. Authorities and airlines have advised anyone with travel plans in the near future to independently monitor their flight status.