Drones close Dubai Airport

Geoffrey Thomas

By Geoffrey Thomas Fri Feb 15, 2019

Dubai Airport was briefly closed by a suspected drone sighting Friday. The Associated Press said the airport  halted flights from 10:13 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Friday over “suspected drone activity.” Flights were later resumed.

The AP said alleged drone sightings have previously disrupted flights into the airport and the UAE is among a number of countries now requiring owners to register.

Passengers tweeted: Anush Wijesinha @anushwij 33 minutes ago

Stuck for ages at Dubai airport runway unable to taxi as unauthorized drones have entered the airspace here and all takeoffs have been grounded! This seems to be happening often in airports everywhere

Dubai airport going nowhere due to drone flying around. So thousands of people sitting in planes going nowhere. What is wrong with people flying drones near airports!!!

Drones delay flights in and out of Dubai airport - reports

In December, flights through London’s busy Gatwick Airport were suspended over two days because of drones.
 

The closure caused extensive disruption to passengers with hundreds of flights canceled or diverted.

Read: World’s Best Airlines for 2019 And in January a drone caused problems at Heathrow Airport. Last Saturday, a drone reportedly came within meters of a Virgin Australia Boeing 737 approaching Brisbane Airport in the latest scare involving the ubiquitous remotely piloted aircraft. Flight VA329 was about 4nm from Brisbane at an altitude of 1300ft on Saturday when it narrowly missed the white drone. “The flight crew from VA329 visually saw a drone on approach into Brisbane Airport on Saturday,’’ a Virgin spokeswoman said. “VA329 landed safely in Brisbane and the event has been reported to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.”  

Have questions or want to share your thoughts?

Comments

No comments yet, be the first to write one.

Latest news and reviews

View more
How Etihad Wellbeing helps frequent flyers arrive refreshed
Airline News

How Etihad Wellbeing helps frequent flyers arrive refreshed

Sep 10, 2026

Sharon Petersen
Miami Prime Air crash: Its service history spans three continents and seven operators, could this be a factor?
Airline News

Miami Prime Air crash: Its service history spans three continents and seven operators, could this be a factor?

Sep 8, 2026

Airline Ratings
Cathay Pacific vs British Airways: which airline wins Hong Kong to London?
Airline News

Cathay Pacific vs British Airways: which airline wins Hong Kong to London?

Sep 8, 2026

Sharon Petersen
The biggest competitor to Qantas domestic business class? Qantas itself.
Airline News

The biggest competitor to Qantas domestic business class? Qantas itself.

Sep 3, 2026

Sharon Petersen

Featured articles

View more
The biggest competitor to Qantas domestic business class? Qantas itself.
Airline News

The biggest competitor to Qantas domestic business class? Qantas itself.

Sep 3, 2026

Sharon Petersen
Cathay Pacific vs British Airways: which airline wins Hong Kong to London?
Airline News

Cathay Pacific vs British Airways: which airline wins Hong Kong to London?

Sep 8, 2026

Sharon Petersen
Qatar Airways' Qsuite is the world's preferred business class
Airline News

Qatar Airways' Qsuite is the world's preferred business class

Aug 18, 2026

Airline Ratings
From First Circuit to Full Flight Deck: How MOZA Built a Flight Sim Ecosystem That Grows With You
Airline News

From First Circuit to Full Flight Deck: How MOZA Built a Flight Sim Ecosystem That Grows With You

Aug 18, 2026

Airline Ratings