- A charter flight from Vietnam to Poland was stranded in Dubai for over 60 hours due to airport shutdown.
- Dubai International Airport closed abruptly after Iranian missile strikes in the Gulf region on February 28
- On March 2, Dubai Airport recorded only 20 aircraft movements, far below its usual daily volume.
A charter flight, 2W7508, travelling from Phu Quoc in Vietnam to Poznan in Poland, made what was meant to be only a quick fuel stop in Dubai on February 28. The aircraft landed at 11:19 am local time (12:49 pm IST), and refuelling began as usual. However, before the process could be completed, Dubai International Airport was abruptly shut down following Iranian missile strikes across Gulf Arab states. What should have been a brief halt turned into an unexpected ordeal, leaving the aircraft and its passengers stranded in Dubai for more than 60 hours, reported Flightradar24.
Escalating Middle East Tensions Trigger Airport Shutdown
The Dubai Airport shutdown on February 28 occurred amid a sharp escalation in the Middle East conflict, which intensified after joint United States and Israeli military strikes on Iranian targets earlier that day. Iran retaliated with ballistic missile barrages aimed at US military installations and allied locations across the Gulf region.
Explosions were reported across several Gulf capitals, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Doha, Riyadh and Manama, sending shockwaves through the region.
Passengers Finally Reach Home On March 3
After days of severe disruption, air travel across the United Arab Emirates is gradually resuming. Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports have started preparing for limited flight operations.
According to Flightradar24, the stranded charter aircraft finally departed Dubai for Poznan on March 3, Tuesday, and landed at 9:27 am in Poland (almost 2 pm IST) after a flight time of 7 hours and 37 minutes.
Dubai International Airport Among The Worst Hit
Dubai International Airport, the busiest international hub in the world and typically a model of round-the-clock efficiency, has faced extraordinary constraints during the ongoing crisis. With airspace access severely restricted, the number of arrivals and departures dropped to unprecedented lows.
Data from March 2, 2026, highlights the extent of the disruption. According to Flightradar24, only 20 total aircraft movements were recorded at Dubai International Airport that day.
* 16 take-offs
* 4 landings
For context, the airport normally handles well over a thousand aircraft movements daily. In the previous week alone, it recorded 5,654 movements - including 2,830 take-offs and 2,824 landings. Read more about the impact on the airport here.
