Ahmedabad: An Ahmedabad-Dubai flight was forced to make a mid-air turnaround and return to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport early on Monday after Dubai airport operations were temporarily affected amid escalating tensions in the Gulf region, sources said.Emirates flight EK539, carrying more than 250 passengers, departed from Ahmedabad at 5.11am but was instructed to head back as Dubai International Airport briefly halted operations, according to airport sources. The aircraft landed safely in Ahmedabad around 7.55am. Passengers were informed about the situation by the airline crew during the flight, sources said. Airport officials said the decision was taken as a precaution following developments in the Gulf region, which led to disruption in some flight operations across the Middle East. “The aircraft returned safely, and all passengers remained on board while the airline coordinated further arrangements,” a source familiar with the development said. The incident comes amid heightened uncertainty for international aviation routes passing through the Gulf, a key global transit hub connecting India with Europe, North America and other regions. In a related development, another Emirates flight, EK649 operating from Colombo to Dubai, was diverted to Ahmedabad later in the day due to operational restrictions at Dubai airport. The aircraft landed at Ahmedabad airport at around 11.36am, sources said. The airline arranged onward travel once conditions permitted. Airport officials confirmed that normal flight operations at Ahmedabad remained unaffected despite the diversions and return of the aircraft. Passengers travelling to West Asia were advised to stay in touch with their airlines for updates, as schedules may be adjusted at short notice depending on the security situation and airport operations in the region.
