Qatar Airways Pauses Flights Following Airspace Closure Amid Rising Tensions
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New Delhi, March 2 (NationPress) Qatar Airways has temporarily halted its flight services following the closure of Qatari airspace due to rising tensions in the Middle East.
In a statement shared on X, the airline declared: “Qatar Airways flight operations are currently on hold due to the closure of Qatari airspace. We will resume services as soon as the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirms the safe reopening of airspace. A further update will be provided on March 3 at 09:00 Doha time (06:00 UTC). Passengers are encouraged to stay updated with the latest flight information via qatarairways.com or the Qatar Airways mobile app.
This suspension follows a series of attacks by Iran on significant Gulf cities, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Doha in Qatar, and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, shortly after joint US-Israeli strikes targeted Iran. These events have ignited a new wave of conflict in the region.
Reports indicate that a new series of explosions was heard in the UAE’s largest city, following earlier blasts on the same day. Qatar confirmed the successful interception of attacks aimed at its territory.
In a statement on X, the Qatar Ministry of Interior reported: “No damage has been found, according to the initial field assessment. No casualties or material damage were noted in residential areas.”
Authorities have also urged citizens to refrain from approaching or handling any unidentified objects or debris.
Meanwhile, the US Department of State has upgraded its travel advisory for Qatar and Bahrain to Level 3 following the initiation of US combat operations in Iran. As of March 1, the advisory for Qatar was raised from Level 1 to Level 3, allowing for the departure of non-emergency personnel and their families due to security risks.
The updated advisory cautioned: “Reconsider Travel to Qatar due to the potential for armed conflict.” It further highlighted that since hostilities between the US and Iran commenced on February 28, there exists an ongoing threat of drone and missile attacks from Iran alongside significant disruptions to commercial flights.
These developments highlight the increasing instability in the Gulf region, significantly impacting aviation, civilian safety, and diplomatic relations as the conflict continues to widen.