March 17, 2026 | 12:32 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Two flights from Indonesia were affected by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) airspace closure following drone crash incidents in parts of the country, according to the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Acting Director for Indonesian Citizen Protection, Heni Hamidah, said the country's representatives in the UAE reported drone fragments falling across Dubai on Monday.
The fragments were found in several locations, including near Dubai International Airport, triggering fires and suspending airport activities.
"Two Emirates flights bound for Dubai from Indonesia were affected by flight diversion," said Heni in a written statement received on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
One of the flights was Emirates EK-359 from Jakarta with an estimated 309 passengers onboard, which was diverted to Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi.
The other flight was Emirates EK-399 from Denpasar with an estimated 300 passengers, which landed at Al-Maktoum International Airport, Dubai.
"No reports of Indonesian citizens falling victim to or requesting assistance thus far," said Heni, referring to the diverted Emirates flights.
Indonesian representatives in the UAE continue to monitor the situation and work closely with local authorities and airlines to ensure the safety and smooth travel of Indonesian citizens.
Crashing drone fragments were also reported in Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain, according to Heni.
The UAE civil aviation authority, GCAA, announced the suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport on Monday as a preventive measure.
This action was taken after a fuel tank near the airport caught fire, suspected to be due to a drone attack. There were no casualties in the incident.
The news agency WAM reported on Tuesday that GCAA had reopened the UAE airspace after the situation was deemed to have improved.
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