Drone Debris Disrupts Flights, Two Indonesia-Bound Emirates Services Diverted

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Two flights from Indonesia were affected by the temporary closure of United Arab Emirates (UAE) airspace after drone fragments fell across several areas, including near Dubai International Airport, Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed on Tuesday, March 17, 2026.

Acting Director for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the ministry, Heni Hamidah, said the Indonesian mission in the UAE reported that debris from drones landed in Dubai on Monday, March 16, sparking fires and briefly halting airport operations.

“Regarding Indonesian nationals, two Emirates flights from Indonesia to Dubai were impacted by diverted landings,” Heni said in a written statement on Tuesday, March 17, as quoted by Antara.

Emirates flight EK-359 from Jakarta, carrying an estimated 309 passengers, was rerouted to Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport. Meanwhile, Emirates flight EK-399 from Denpasar, with about 300 passengers, landed at Dubai’s Al-Maktoum International Airport.

Heni said that no Indonesian citizens were reported injured or in need of assistance. The Indonesian mission continues to monitor developments and coordinate with local authorities and airlines to ensure the safety and smooth travel of Indonesian nationals.

Drone debris was also reported in Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. The UAE’s civil aviation authority (GCAA) announced the suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport on Monday as a precaution after a nearby fuel tank caught fire, believed to have been triggered by a drone strike. No casualties were reported.

By Tuesday, the UAE news agency WAM reported that the GCAA had reopened the country’s airspace after assessing that conditions had stabilized. ***