Dubai's main international airport faced a major disruption on Monday after a drone struck a fuel tank near the airport, sparking a massive fire and forcing authorities to temporarily suspend flights at one of the world’s busiest international travel hubs.
Emergency teams quickly responded to the incident, containing the blaze while aviation authorities halted operations as a precaution to ensure the safety of passengers and airport staff.
The disruption also triggered traffic closures around the airport area and flight diversions to nearby airports, as tensions linked to the ongoing war involving the United States, Israel and Iran continue to impact security across the Gulf region.
Dubai authorities confirmed that a drone struck a fuel tank in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport, triggering a fire and prompting an emergency response.
No injuries were reported in the incident despite the fire and airport disruption.
The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority temporarily halted flights at Dubai International Airport (DXB) as a precaution to ensure passenger and staff safety.
Some aircraft scheduled to land in Dubai were diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) while emergency teams managed the situation.
Emirates airline confirmed the disruption and urged passengers not to travel to the airport, saying operations were significantly reduced.
The situation is under control, the fire has been contained, and no casualties have been reported, but airport operations and nearby traffic remain disrupted as safety checks continue.
