Two Emirates flights from Indonesia to Dubai were diverted due to a temporary UAE airspace closure following drone debris falls. No Indonesian citizens were reported as victims. UAE airspace reopened on Tuesday.
Jakarta – Two flights from Indonesia were affected by a temporary closure of United Arab Emirates (UAE) airspace after drone debris fell in several areas on Monday, March 16, 2026. Indonesia's representatives in the UAE reported the incident in Dubai, including near Dubai International Airport, which caused a fire and halted airport operations briefly. Debris was also found in Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain, according to Acting Director for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens at Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu), Heni Hamidah, in a written statement on Tuesday (March 17, 2026). > Terkait dengan warga negara Indonesia, terdapat dua penerbangan maskapai Emirates dari Indonesia menuju Dubai yang terdampak pengalihan pendaratan. Emirates flight EK-359 from Jakarta with about 309 passengers was diverted to Abu Dhabi International Airport (Zayed). Emirates EK-399 from Denpasar with around 300 passengers landed at Dubai International Al-Maktoum Airport. > Sejauh ini, tidak terdapat laporan WNI yang menjadi korban ataupun meminta bantuan terkait insiden tersebut. UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) suspended flights at Dubai International Airport as a preventive measure after a fuel tank near the airport caught fire, suspected due to a drone attack. No casualties were reported. State news agency WAM said GCAA reopened UAE airspace after the situation improved. Indonesia's representatives in the UAE continue monitoring and coordinating with local authorities and airlines for Indonesian citizens' safety.
