As Emirates flight EK10 from London cruised over Saudi Arabia on Monday, news broke of a drone strike at its destination, Dubai. The aircraft turned back to Gatwick, flight data shows, completing a 9,100 km round trip — one of dozens of “flights to nowhere” ​triggered by the Middle East war.
Roughly 30 Emirates flights heading to Dubai International Airport were also ordered ‌back or ‌rerouted after Iranian drone attacks temporarily shut what is normally the world’s busiest ​airport for international passengers.
Passengers expecting a dawn landing in the glitzy United Arab Emirates port city were stunned.