JAKARTA - Two Emirates flights carrying Indonesian passengers were diverted on Monday after a drone strike sparked a fire near Dubai International Airport, triggering a suspension of all operations from 6:30am local time.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry confirmed the disruptions in a written statement on Tuesday, March 17.  Acting Director for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens Heni Hamidah described the scale of the attack, “Indonesian representatives reported several incidents of drone debris falling in a number of areas in Dubai, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain, causing fires at several locations, including near Dubai International Airport.” 

“Local authorities responded immediately to the incidents, and so far no casualties have been reported,” she added.

The fires were extinguished by emergency teams, and Emirates resumed a limited flight schedule after 10:00 a.m.

According to the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, two Emirates services from Indonesia were caught in the airspace closure. Flight EK359 from Jakarta was diverted to Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi, roughly 140 kilometres away, while flight EK399 from Denpasar was diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai’s secondary facility known as Dubai World Central.

“Regarding Indonesian citizens, there were two Emirates flights from Indonesia to Dubai that were affected by the diversion of landings,” Heni said.

Monday’s strike was the latest in a series of drone incidents at Dubai International Airport since the conflict began on February 28. Previously on March 1, a drone caused minor damage to a concourse. 

A more serious incident occurred on March 7, when a drone exploded next to Concourse A, narrowly missing the terminal building and a parked aircraft. Then, on March 11, two drones fell near the airport, injuring four airport staff members - two Ghanaians, one Bangladeshi, and one Indian national.

As of March 13, more than 6,000 Indonesian nationals had been stranded across the Middle East since the conflict began, the majority of them Umrah pilgrims held in Jeddah awaiting flights home.