Emirates said on Tuesday that several Dubai-bound flights from India were forced to return shortly after departure due to ongoing airspace closures linked to military tensions in the region.
The affected services departed from Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore on the evening of March 2 but were instructed to turn back in line with air traffic control directives. A spokesperson for the Dubai-based carrier confirmed that the aircraft returned safely to their respective airports of origin.
“Emirates can confirm that flights originating in Delhi, Chennai, and Bangalore, and heading to Dubai on the evening of March 2, returned to origin shortly after take-off, in line with air traffic control instructions. Emirates will reschedule these flights when possible, and passengers will be accommodated in hotels until they are rescheduled,” the spokesperson said.
The United Arab Emirates’ airspace remained closed to commercial scheduled flights on Tuesday as military conflict in parts of the Gulf and wider Middle East continued. Authorities have limited operations to special flights aimed at repatriating passengers stranded since Saturday.
Major UAE carriers, including Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia, are operating a restricted number of services to select destinations in Asia and Europe as part of coordinated efforts to ease the backlog of travellers.
Flight tracking data showed that an Air Arabia service, flight G9426, departed from Sharjah International Airport for Cochin, India, on Tuesday afternoon. The limited departures reflect the tight controls in place across regional airspace.
Airlines across the Gulf have faced mounting disruption following the outbreak of hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran over the weekend. Widespread airspace restrictions in several Middle Eastern countries have led to a cascade of cancellations and rerouted services.
Industry sources estimate that nearly 13,000 flights have been cancelled since Saturday as carriers grapple with sudden closures, security concerns and shifting flight corridors. The disruption has affected thousands of passengers travelling through key transit hubs in the region.
Emirates reiterated that safety remains its top priority. “Emirates apologises for any inconvenience, but the safety and security of our passengers and crew is of the utmost importance and won’t be compromised,” the spokesperson said.
Passengers affected by cancellations and diversions have been advised to check directly with airlines for updates on rescheduling and accommodation arrangements. With airspace restrictions still in place and no clear timeline for a full reopening, airlines are preparing for continued operational challenges in the days ahead.
