Drone incursion forces DXB closure

Fourteen flights – 13 of which were Emirates services - were diverted to Al Maktoum airport in Jebel Ali, four to Sharjah and three to Al Ain. Emirates says all its diverted flights returned to DXB after the airspace opened.

DXB is one of four drone no-fly zones set up by the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) after a drone incursion incident last year resulted in a 55-minute shutdown. Dubai’s other drone no-fly zones are Al Maktoum airport, Al Minhad air base and the Palm Jumeirah.

The GCAA says it is now working with Dubai Police, the airport and other relevant authorities on an investigation into the no-fly zone breach.