West Asia conflict: Dubai airport closure forces Emirates flight back to Kochi

An Emirates flight bound for Dubai with 325 passengers on board returned to Kochi in Kerala four hours after take-off on Monday (March 16, 2026) morning following the sudden closure of the Dubai airport.

The flight, EK 533, had left at 4.30 a.m. and landed back at 8.30 a.m. Airport sources said the closure was prompted by a “security incident.”

Passengers were initially advised to remain on board while the situation in Dubai was being reviewed. The idea was to operate the service if the airport reopens. Eventually, passengers were asked to disembark, officials added.

Flights to most West Asia destinations, except Muscat, had been cancelled after the bombing of Iran by Israel and the U.S. and Iran’s retaliation since February 28. Services have since been progressively restored though services are yet back to the pre-February 28 level.

Sources noted that closures of airports in the wake of security incidents have become common. On at least one earlier occasion, a Dubai-bound flight had to return in similar fashion.