Airlines Play Real-Life Frogger Around Middle East Missiles
KEY POINTS
- â˘On June 25, Etihad suspended all Abu Dhabi flights but still operated 12, including one to London Heathrow.
- â˘Reported missile threats caused cargo flights to divert to Muscat and passenger jets to hold or double back.
- â˘The US urged evacuations across more than a dozen Middle Eastern countries amid embassy attacks and airspace restrictions.
On June 25, 2025, Etihad Airways boldly declared all Abu Dhabi flights suspended until Tuesday afternoon, yet 12 rebellious flights levitated into the sky by 5 p.m., including a majestic A380 to London at 2:39 p.m. Nearby, Dubaiâs Emirates envoy chose a triple somersault: after holding off Mumbai's coast, this model aircraft nearly auditioned for the airspace ballet by double U-turning to land finally in Dubai at 3 a.m. Add to the chaos missile threats redirecting cargo flights to Omanâs Muscat and unidentified flights from authorities-into-airspace despite warnings, and you've got a Middle East game of airborne Twister. Meanwhile, Lufthansa managed a solo pilot flight sans passengers because their 17 indispensable attendants were ghosted by UAE's 'massive restrictions.' Itâs a traffic jam without roads and an airport memo telling passengers: 'Check with your airline... or guess.'
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Middle East airspace: where flight plans turn into suspense thrillers and pilots perfect the U-turn like itâs a new Olympic sport.
Missiles force planes to rethink simple routes, making air travel a high-stakes game of Marco Polo with the sky.
Etihad suspends flights, then launches a dozen like itâs a clearance sale on chaos and confusion.
Source: Businessinsider | Published: 3/3/2026 | Author: Pete Syme,Will Martin,Taylor Rains
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