Two Indonesian Flights Diverted as UAE Closes Airspace Following Iranian Drone Attack

The United Arab Emirates closed its airspace amid Iranian drone attacks on several American facilities in the Middle East, affecting two flights from Indonesia. The Indonesian representative in the UAE reported that drone debris fell in the Dubai area on Monday, 16 March, with fragments discovered at multiple locations, including near Dubai International Airport. The incident caused a fire and temporarily halted airport operations.

Regarding Indonesian nationals, Acting Director of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s Citizen Protection Division Heni Hamidah reported that two Emirates airline flights from Indonesia bound for Dubai were affected by landing diversions. One flight, Emirates EK-359 from Jakarta with an estimated 309 passengers, was diverted to Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. The other flight, Emirates EK-399 from Denpasar with approximately 300 passengers, landed at Al-Maktoum International Airport in Dubai.

“To date, there have been no reports of Indonesian nationals who were casualties or requesting assistance regarding the incident,” Hamidah stated. The Indonesian representative in the UAE continues to monitor the situation and coordinate with local authorities and airlines to ensure the safety and smooth travel of Indonesian nationals.

The incident of falling drone debris was also reported to have occurred in Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. The UAE’s civil aviation authority, GCAA, announced the suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport on Monday as a precautionary measure. This action was taken after a fuel tank near the airport caught fire, allegedly due to a drone attack. There were no casualties in the incident.

The news agency WAM reported on Tuesday that GCAA had reopened UAE’s airspace after the situation was assessed to have improved.