A limited number of flights from Dubai International Airport are to resume after a fuel tank fire, sparked during a drone incursion, suspended operations early on Monday.
Large flames could be seen leaping into the air near the airport, before the fire was eventually brought under control.
A number of flights were canceled, while others were delayed and diverted, when the country’s aviation authority closed the airport.
Flights from the UK, Ireland, India, and Pakistan were turned back to their points of origin, Flightradar24 maps showed earlier.
Some flights were expected to resume from 10 a.m. local time (2 a.m. ET), said Emirates, which has its global headquarters in Dubai.
Dubai airport suspends flights after drone attack
Flights were temporarily suspended at Dubai International Airport after a fuel tank nearby caught fire during a “drone-related incident,” according to Dubai’s Civil Aviation Authority. The airport has now resumed some flights.
Dubai airport suspends flights after drone attack
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Raj Dholakia told CNN he was at Dubai airport waiting to board a flight home to Toronto, via New York, when authorities evacuated the entire floor covering three gates.
“There were hundreds of people – resting, sleeping or walking – everyone was told to go to the nearest staircase and go down,” Dholakia said.
“The escalator was full and even lifts were being used,” he added, speaking from the assembly point, where he estimated up to 1,000 passengers had gathered.
With seating scarce, some people sat on the floor, Dholakia said. He added that many passengers may have been waiting in planes on the runway, as departure boards still listed a dozen flights as “gate closed,” “final call,” or “boarding.”
Travelers were advised to contact their airlines for the latest updates regarding their flight.
The fuel tank fire was “successfully contained” and no injuries were reported from the drone “impact,” the Dubai Media Office said earlier.
Some flights are now being diverted to the city’s other main airport, Al Maktoum International Airport, which is about 65 kilometers away.
CNN has reached out to airport operator Dubai Airports.