Some flights are resuming from Abu Dhabi, but confusion reigns after Iran strikes upended air travel

"Eight Etihad Airways flights departed Abu Dhabi on Monday, even as the airline said operations remain suspended. Nearly 100,000 people tracked the first plane - a double-decker Airbus A380 bound for London - on Flightradar24 when it took off at 2:39 p.m. local time. It was soon followed by seven wide-body jets bound for Paris, Amsterdam, Moscow, Karachi, Mumbai, Islamabad, and Delhi."

"About an hour earlier, Etihad Airways said in an X post that 'all flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended' until 2 p.m. on Tuesday. 'Due to the temporary closure of UAE airspace, passengers scheduled to travel today should check directly with their airline before heading to the airport,' a banner on the airport's website showed on Monday."

"A Lufthansa Airbus A380 also took off from Abu Dhabi earlier on Monday, bound for Munich. The enormous airplane can carry over 500 passengers, but an airline spokesperson told Business Insider there were only two pilots on board. That's because it arrived in Abu Dhabi three months ago for maintenance, which has now been completed."

Following Iranian drone strikes on Abu Dhabi airport, flight operations resumed with significant confusion. Eight Etihad Airways flights departed Monday to London, Paris, Amsterdam, Moscow, Karachi, Mumbai, Islamabad, and Delhi, despite the airline's official statement that all flights remained suspended until Tuesday. A Lufthansa A380 also took off with only two pilots aboard after completing maintenance. Nearly 100,000 people tracked the first departure on Flightradar24. UAE airspace had been temporarily closed, and flights from Dubai, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait remained suspended. One person was killed and seven injured when an Iranian drone targeting the airport was intercepted on Sunday.

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