Emirates Flights from Kerala Return Amid Dubai Airport Closure Due to Security Incident

On March 16, two Emirates flights bound for Dubai from Kerala—one from Kochi with 325 passengers and another from Thiruvananthapuram with 353 passengers and 19 crew—returned to their departure airports due to the sudden closure of Dubai International Airport following a security incident. The closure was prompted by a drone strike causing a fire near Dubai airport amid regional tensions. Emirates suspended all flights to and from Dubai, advising passengers to remain on board while the situation is assessed.