Drone Attack Near Dubai Airport Disrupts Flights From India Including Bengaluru and Mangaluru

Flight services between India and Dubai faced sudden disruption after a reported drone attack near Dubai International Airport triggered security concerns and operational restrictions. Airlines were forced to cancel several scheduled flights while passengers across multiple airports struggled with unexpected travel delays.

Airlines including Air India and Air India Express suspended some of their operations to Dubai following directions from aviation authorities in the United Arab Emirates. The precautionary move affected both outgoing and incoming flights linking several Indian cities with the Gulf region.

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport experienced the largest impact as multiple flights connected to Middle Eastern destinations were cancelled. Airport officials confirmed that a total of twenty four flights were affected. Eleven departures scheduled to leave Bengaluru were cancelled while thirteen arriving flights from Gulf countries were also unable to operate as planned.

Flights expected to arrive from cities such as Abu Dhabi Riyadh Jeddah Dammam Dubai and Doha were among those affected by the disruption. Passengers waiting at the airport were informed that their flights had been cancelled due to the evolving security situation near the Dubai airport area.

The disruption was not limited to Bengaluru alone. Mangaluru International Airport also witnessed a halt in services connecting to major Gulf destinations. Flights from Mangaluru to Dubai Dammam and Abu Dhabi were suspended after aviation authorities in the United Arab Emirates issued instructions restricting operations.

Air India Express confirmed that several flights scheduled for both the current day and the following day from Mangaluru had been cancelled. The airline said the decision was taken to ensure passenger safety and to comply with guidance issued by airport authorities in the region.

The sudden cancellations caused inconvenience for many travellers who had planned to fly between India and the Gulf for work family visits and business purposes. Some passengers who had already reached Dubai reportedly faced difficulties returning as scheduled flights were temporarily halted.

Airlines have attempted to ease the inconvenience by offering flexible travel options. Passengers affected by the cancellations were allowed to reschedule their journeys for a later date without paying additional fees. Those who no longer wished to travel were also offered the option to cancel their tickets and receive a full refund.

Travel desks at affected airports were seen assisting passengers with rebooking and refund requests while airlines issued advisories urging travellers to check flight status before heading to the airport.

Security experts say incidents involving drones near major airports can immediately disrupt aviation activity because of the potential risk they pose to aircraft during takeoff and landing. Aviation authorities typically respond with temporary suspension of flights until the airspace is declared safe again.

For now airlines and airport officials are closely monitoring the situation while awaiting further instructions from aviation regulators in the United Arab Emirates. Passengers with upcoming travel plans to Dubai or nearby destinations have been advised to stay in touch with their airlines for updated flight schedules.

The incident highlights how security events in one region can quickly affect international travel networks especially on busy routes linking India and the Gulf where thousands of passengers fly daily for work tourism and family visits.