. CHENNA: An Emirates flight bound for Dubai from Chennai with 206 passengers on board was forced to make a U-turn over the Arabian Sea in the early hours of Monday, reports Venkadesan S. The decision was taken after authorities alerted the pilot about a fire at Dubai airport triggered by drone strikes near a fuel tank facility. The flight (EK543) took off from Chennai at 4am, but the pilot received an alert not to proceed further when the flight was flying at 34,000-ft over the Arabian Sea. Immediately, the flight returned to Chennai and landed safely at 6.45am. It was declared cancelled. Passengers were deboarded and instructed to reschedule their journey. Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Iran calls Israeli bombing of fuel depots ‘ecocide’; Trump warns Nato over war fallout’Fabrication of clips using AI’: UAE orders action against 19 Indians over misleading posts amid Iran warNetanyahu Debunks Death Rumours: PM posts new cafe video; envoy calls AI claims fakeHarini from the city, who was hoping to reach London via Dubai, said she would not be able to report to work in London due to the cancellation of the flight. Syed Hasan, another passenger, said he could not visit his wife in Dubai, and his flights were cancelled three times in past one week. Usha, a senior citizen passenger, said the flight crew did not detail the reason for the return. Ahmedabad-Dubai flight also turns around An Ahmedabad-Dubai flight (EK539), carrying over 250 passengers, was also forced to return shortly after take-off early Monday as operations at Dubai airport were briefly disrupted. In a separate incident, an Emirates flight (EK649) from Colombo to Dubai was diverted to Ahmedabad, landing at 11.36am with nearly 300 passengers on board.About the AuthorVenkadesan SVenkadesan S is a Special Correspondent who primarily covers electricity, aviation, the information commission, central investigation agencies, and metro rail.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia Holds Off On US Trade Deal Signing As Washington Resets Global Tariff ArchitectureInternet Calls Bibi’s Cafe Video ‘Deepfake’, Israel Says PM Alive; ‘Free Palestine’ Echoes At OscarsIran Seeks Return Of 3 Tankers Seized By India In Return For Hormuz Safe Passage: ReportThree Indian Navy Destroyers Quietly Secure Oil Tankers Passage Through Volatile HormuzAnother Pinaka Regiment Becomes Operational, Three More By 2027: ReportsLPG Tanker ‘Shivalik’ Reaches India After Crossing Strait Of Hormuz, Docks At Gujarat’s Mundra PortMEA Confirms Safe Exit Of 600+ Indians From Iran Via Armenia, Azerbaijan Amid West Asia ConflictCentre Urges LPG Users To Shift To PNG While Assuring Uninterrupted Fuel Supply NationwideIndian Ship Shivalik Nears Mumbai While Nanda Devi And Jag Laadki Carrying Fuel Safely Past HormuzAnant Singh Declares He Will Quit Politics If Nitish Kumar Steps Down As Bihar CM123Photostories7 forgotten Indian sarees that deserve to trend again5 high-protein smoothies for Sehri to keep you energised all dayExclusive – The 50’s Sidharth Bharadwaj gets emotional remembering his difficult phase abroad; says ‘When my show, Aafat, was released, Main 7-Eleven mein pocha maar raha tha’7 foods you should never eat without soaking and why5 breathable saree fabrics to wear during the Delhi heatwaveThe surprising history of dupatta in Indian fashion and cultureHow to make restaurant-style Nargisi Kofta for dinner at homeSleeping with lights on or TV playing? Doctors say this habit may disrupt hormones and metabolism10 oldest forests in the world and the countries they are inKuldeep Yadav’s Car Collection: Top 3 expensive cars owned by the cricketer123Hot PicksDoha travel alertLadakh statehood ralliesRasgulla choking deathGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingH1B VisaPurdue BoilermakersBareilly murderTaylor SwiftNFL Free AgencyGreen Card HoldersAssembly election dateStephen CurryNeymarEid ul fitr 2026
CHENNA: An Emirates flight bound for Dubai from Chennai with 206 passengers on board was forced to make a U-turn over the Arabian Sea in the early hours of Monday, reports Venkadesan S. The decision was taken after authorities alerted the pilot about a fire at Dubai airport triggered by drone strikes near a fuel tank facility. The flight (EK543) took off from Chennai at 4am, but the pilot received an alert not to proceed further when the flight was flying at 34,000-ft over the Arabian Sea. Immediately, the flight returned to Chennai and landed safely at 6.45am. It was declared cancelled. Passengers were deboarded and instructed to reschedule their journey. Harini from the city, who was hoping to reach London via Dubai, said she would not be able to report to work in London due to the cancellation of the flight. Syed Hasan, another passenger, said he could not visit his wife in Dubai, and his flights were cancelled three times in past one week. Usha, a senior citizen passenger, said the flight crew did not detail the reason for the return. Ahmedabad-Dubai flight also turns around An Ahmedabad-Dubai flight (EK539), carrying over 250 passengers, was also forced to return shortly after take-off early Monday as operations at Dubai airport were briefly disrupted. In a separate incident, an Emirates flight (EK649) from Colombo to Dubai was diverted to Ahmedabad, landing at 11.36am with nearly 300 passengers on board.
