Flight Diverted Due to Drone Attack at Dubai Airport
Hundreds of passengers on an Emirates flight bound for Dubai experienced an 11-hour delay after their plane was forced to return to Edinburgh while flying over Egypt.
The Emirates flight EK24 departed from Edinburgh at 21:26 on Sunday night, with a scheduled arrival in Dubai at 06:49 on Monday morning.
However, as the aircraft was traversing Egyptian airspace, flights at Dubai International Airport were suspended following a fire caused by an Iranian drone striking a fuel tank. Consequently, the flight was redirected back to Edinburgh.
Context of the Incident and Safety Measures
Travel journalist Simon Calder spoke on BBC's Radio Scotland Breakfast programme, noting that despite Dubai being on the UK Foreign Office's "No go" list, many travelers continue to take the risk of flying there.
"At around 4am the airport announced that it was closing. At that time, the flight from Edinburgh, EK24 going to Dubai had just about reached the Egyptian mainland. Unfortunately the crew were told 'back to where you started from'. What a miserable experience."
No injuries were reported from the drone strike. Authorities stated they had implemented "all necessary measures" to ensure public safety.
In a post on X, officials described the suspension of air traffic as a "precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff."
Subsequently, the Dubai Media Office announced that the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority had begun the "gradual resumption" of some flights to and from Dubai International Airport, limited to selected destinations.
Passengers were advised to check with their airlines for the latest flight updates.
Regional Security and Air Traffic Impact
Dubai International Airport was the world's busiest airport for international passengers in 2025, handling nearly 90 million travelers.
During the ongoing conflict, Iran has launched nearly 2,000 missiles and drones targeting the United Arab Emirates, with most intercepted by air defense systems.
Saudi Arabia reported intercepting dozens of drones overnight, while Iraq and Kuwait also reported new attacks.
"So many Scots depend on flying out to the Gulf. Of more concern is if you are in Australia, Asia or Africa trying to come back, air passenger rights rules don't apply if you're booked on a non EU or non UK airline."
"Things are getting worse and worse before hopefully they will get better."
Calder described the situation as a "really difficult time to be travelling" and added:
"If you are going through the Gulf you are taking something of a risk, although from what I've seen, plenty of people are prepared to take that risk in order to get where they need to be."
Responses from Airlines and Airports
Emirates has been contacted for comment regarding the incident.
Edinburgh Airport declined to comment on the situation.
