US flights rerouted midair, canceled as missiles shut down Dubai airports

"Due to contingency plans already in place, most of the terminals were previously cleared of passengers. All flight operations have been suspended at Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest hubs on the continent, Dubai World Central Airport, Abu Dhabi and Doha. Passengers should not travel to the airports for the time being."

"In Dubai, stranded travelers could hear fighter jets overhead and an explosion when the Fairmont Palm Hotel was hit by a missile strike. A Dubai International Airport spokesperson confirmed that a concourse sustained minor damage, and four staff members who were injured needed medical attention."

"The chaos in the region prompted two departures from California that were already in the air to reroute over the weekend. Emirates Flight 226 left SFO on Friday afternoon and switched course in the air to land instead in Munich, flight tracking from FlightAware shows."

Dubai International Airport, one of the world's busiest aviation hubs, suspended all flight operations following airstrikes in the Middle East. A missile struck the Fairmont Palm Hotel near the airport, causing minor damage to a concourse and injuring four staff members. Contingency plans had previously cleared most terminals of passengers, preventing casualties. Flight suspensions extended to Dubai World Central, Abu Dhabi, and Doha airports. Passengers faced communication challenges obtaining flight information from airlines and tour operators. Emirates suspended all flights to and from Dubai through at least Monday afternoon. Two Emirates flights departing California were rerouted mid-flight to Munich and Rome. Multiple scheduled flights at San Francisco and Los Angeles airports were canceled or did not depart.

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