It has been a completely wild day for aviation (and world occasions extra broadly), as the US and Israel have attacked Iran, and Iran has retaliated, by sending drones and missiles to some close by international locations with US army bases. This has prompted an enormous variety of flight cancelations and airspace closures, significantly impacting Gulf carriers. Properly, right here’s maybe probably the most direct impression we’ve seen on aviation to date…
Dubai Airport Terminal 3 struck by Iranian drone
Whereas particulars stay pretty restricted, an Iranian drone has struck Dubai Worldwide Airport Terminal 3, inflicting important harm, and in addition some accidents. Thus far, the airport has launched the next assertion:
Dubai Airports confirms {that a} concourse at Dubai Worldwide (DXB) sustained minor harm in an incident, which was rapidly contained. Emergency response groups had been instantly deployed and are managing the state of affairs in coordination with the related authorities. 4 workers sustained accidents and acquired immediate medical consideration. As a consequence of contingency plans already in place, a lot of the terminals had been beforehand cleared of passengers. Additional updates will likely be offered as they grow to be out there.
Movies on social media are type of surprising, and present the airport being evacuated, plus important harm throughout the terminal. Experiences recommend that “solely” 4 individuals sustained accidents, so hopefully that’s correct, and the accidents aren’t too critical (as I may’ve seen this being lots worse).
The airport isn’t even the one place in Dubai to be struck. The Fairmont The Palm Dubai was additionally hit by a drone, and there ended up being a significant hearth there.
Dubai Airport stays closed till no less than Sunday afternoon
Because it at present stands, Dubai Worldwide Airport is closed till 3PM native time on Sunday, March 1, 2026. And that’s only a greatest case state of affairs reopening timeline, and I think about it’s extremely probably that this will likely be prolonged additional.
Emirates shut down early Saturday morning, so to see the airline totally come to a cease for nicely over a day (at a minimal) is an extremely uncommon occasion.
Backside line
Dubai Worldwide Airport was struck by an Iranian drone right this moment, with Terminal 3 sustaining critical harm, resulting in accidents. It’s fairly terrifying to see the terminal of a significant airport struck on this manner, although I’m no less than glad that there weren’t extra accidents.
I hope that this battle will be resolved in as optimistic of a manner as attainable. However I can’t assist however really feel like we’re about to enter a brand new period that’s going to return with some disagreeable realities. This all clearly has main geopolitical implications.
