Drone Crash Sparks Fire Near Dubai Airport, No Injuries Reported
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Key Takeaways
Dubai, March 16 (NationPress) A fire ignited by a drone collision near Dubai International Airport has been successfully controlled, with no injuries reported, according to local officials on Monday.
In response, flights were momentarily halted as a safety precaution to protect both passengers and staff.
Authorities explained that the blaze erupted after a drone landed near the airport and impacted a fuel tank. The Dubai Civil Defence confirmed that they effectively managed to extinguish the fire.
Since the onset of the US-Israeli conflict with Iran on February 28, Gulf nations have experienced a surge in missile and drone strikes, with the United Arab Emirates intercepting over 1,500 drones to date, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Earlier, on March 14, a separate fire occurred in Fujairah, another emirate within the UAE, due to debris falling after an unmanned aerial vehicle was intercepted by air defense systems.
No injuries were reported from that incident either.
Details regarding the drone's origin, the precise location of the event, or the extent of the damage have not been disclosed by officials.
In light of the drone incident, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority has announced the temporary suspension of all flights at Dubai International Airport as a precautionary measure. They advised travelers to check with their airlines for the latest flight updates. Further information will be shared through official channels as it becomes available.
This incident occurs amidst heightened tensions, with Iran reportedly launching over 1,800 missiles and drones towards the UAE since the beginning of the ongoing Middle East conflict, making the UAE a primary target, according to officials. Most of these projectiles have been intercepted by air defense systems, although travel disruptions have been reported in the Gulf financial hub.
Iran's targets have included both US assets and civilian infrastructures, such as airports, ports, and oil facilities throughout the Gulf, particularly in response to US-Israeli strikes on its leadership.
Furthermore, the UAE's defense ministry has reported a total of six fatalities since the conflict's inception, comprising four civilians and two military personnel, with the latter having died in a helicopter crash attributed to a technical malfunction.