Several Israeli families who tried to salvage their Passover vacation plans by flying through the United Arab Emirates found themselves trapped overnight at Dubai International Airport after a drone incident triggered emergency procedures.
Despite explicit warnings from the National Security Council advising against transit flights through the UAE, many Israelis continued to travel via the Gulf state. Some discovered that their escape from the tense security situation at home led them directly into another crisis.
Dubai airport under attack
“We wanted to escape the situation in Israel and ended up with something worse,” one Israeli woman told Ynet from Dubai, where she was stranded with her five children.
According to her account, the problems began even before arrival in the Emirates. While waiting for a connecting flight in Larnaca, Israeli passengers were reportedly separated from other travelers and asked to wait for additional immigration approval before boarding.
“When we arrived in Dubai and went to board our connecting flight, they suddenly told us we couldn’t get on because it was ‘too late,’ even though we had all arrived on time,” she said.
Airport placed on emergency footing
While passengers were trying to rebook flights at airline counters, the situation at the airport escalated.
A drone incident near Dubai International Airport prompted emergency procedures at one of the world’s busiest air hubs.
“They moved everyone down to level minus one,” the woman said. “We were there for four hours in an area with no special protection. There were thousands of people, elderly travelers and babies.”
According to her, the airport staff was unable to provide clear explanations.
“They didn’t say what was happening or how long it would last. They just kept saying there was ‘instability.’ No one knew what was going on.”
The third incident near the airport since February
Reuters reported that Dubai security forces extinguished a fire that broke out near the airport following the drone incident.
Local police closed roads and tunnels leading to the airport, and some flights were diverted to other destinations.
The incident was the third near Dubai airport since Iran began launching drone and missile attacks toward Gulf countries on February 28.
The Israeli traveler described the ongoing confusion inside the airport.
“We’re here with five children, including a baby,” she said. “The chaos around departing flights continues. There’s no clear information about cancellations or delays. They just tell everyone to wait.”
“We tried to escape the situation in Israel and ended up with something worse.”