By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
Global air travel has entered a state of unprecedented chaos following joint U.S. and Israeli military strikes against Iran on February 28, 2026. The escalation triggered an immediate closure of critical airspace and the suspension of operations at the world’s most vital transit hubs. Airlines canceled hundreds of Middle East flights while dozens of others diverted midflight due to closed airspace over a large swath of the region. Some service was paused until at least the end of next week. Disruptions now ripple from Brazil to Australia as carriers scramble to navigate active combat zones.
Regime decapitation triggers regional chaos
The assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a targeted strike on his Tehran compound has plunged the region into a security vacuum. Israel launched a second wave of strikes on the Iranian capital Sunday morning to paralyze the regime’s command structure. Iran has retaliated with massive missile volleys targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. assets, including Qatar and the UAE. While some Iranians celebrated the leadership change, the IRGC has vowed an open-ended offensive, further entrenching the regional lockdown.
Direct hits and airport closures
The conflict escalated rapidly after the initial 2 a.m. ET strikes. Iran retaliated by targeting U.S. military bases in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan. Kuwait International Airport was hit by a drone attack, which caused damage to a passenger terminal and left some workers with minor injuries, The Wall Street Journal reported. Consequently, Dubai International and Dubai World Central—the world’s largest hubs for international travel—were shut down about 7 a.m. ET Saturday. “Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport at this time and to contact their respective airlines directly for the latest updates regarding their flights,” a statement from Dubai Airports said.
Massive scale of cancellations
Aviation data firm Cirium reports a historic collapse in regional traffic. More than 1,800 flights in and out of the Middle East countries were canceled on Saturday, and another 1,400 for Sunday. Preliminary data shows airlines have cancelled about half of their flights to Israel and Qatar and about 28% of flights to Kuwait—in total, about 24% of flights to the Middle East were cancelled.
Airspace becomes a vacuum
As of Saturday, flight maps showed airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, and Bahrain virtually empty. Israel, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan closed their airspace following the attacks and a map of the region on Flightradar24 showed planes avoiding these areas. International carriers have been forced to scrub long-haul flights that normally transit the area. Air India said it was suspending all flights to the Middle East and later canceled flights between India and both Europe and the United States scheduled for Sunday. Lufthansa Group said it suspended flights to Israel, Lebanon, Jordan Iraq, and Tehran until March 7.
Stranded crews and midair diversions
Airlines prioritized the immediate safety of staff as the situation deteriorated. An American Airlines flight from Philadelphia to Doha turned around near Spain and was en route back to Philadelphia. As of Saturday afternoon ET, the airline had about a dozen crewmembers — pilots and flight attendants — still in Doha, according to people familiar with the matter. Crews were advised to shelter in place at their hotel in Doha, according to a memo to staff. “Our Corporate Security teams and others across the airline have been actively monitoring the situation throughout the evening and today remain closely coordinated with the U.S. Government,” American wrote.
Strategic objectives and historical grievances
Shortly after explosions were reported in Tehran on Saturday, President Donald Trump accused the regime of an “unending campaign of bloodshed targeting the United States.” He argued that Iran had rejected opportunities to renounce its nuclear programme and claimed it was developing missiles that could “soon reach the American homeland.” The White House cited long-standing grievances, including the 1979 embassy hostage crisis and the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing, as justification for “Operation Epic Fury.”
The U.S. president further cited the violent suppression of Iranian protesters and a failed round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva as the final catalysts for the operation. Unlike the targeted strikes of June 2025, which focused solely on nuclear facilities, this current mission seeks total regime change. This “seismic shift” has prompted the United Arab Emirates’ air defence systems to actively intercept waves of incoming drones near Dubai, effectively severing Ghana’s vital link to Asia and Europe.
Casualties and direct airport damage
The regional retaliation has turned major civilian transit hubs into active combat zones. At least one confirmed death and 11 injuries at major UAE hubs. At Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH), authorities confirmed one person was killed and seven injured after a drone interception sent debris into a residential and transit area. In a separate incident, a concourse at Dubai International (DXB)—the world’s busiest for international traffic—sustained structural damage that left four airport staff members injured. Most terminals had been cleared due to pre-existing contingency plans.
The spillover has reached critical maritime and aviation sites across the Gulf. Debris from an aerial interception ignited a fire at Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port, while Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior confirmed a drone attack caused material damage to Bahrain International Airport. In Oman, state media reported two drones targeted Duqm Port, injuring one foreign worker. These targeted hits on civilian infrastructure have grounded thousands of flights, creating the most severe disruption to global travel since the 2020 pandemic
Regional disruptions hit West African hubs
The impact was felt sharply in Accra at 7:15 pm GMT on Saturday, when Emirates flight EK 788 was officially cancelled at Accra International Airport. The grounding left hundreds of travellers stranded, effectively severing a vital link to Asia and Europe. This disruption follows the launch of a joint military mission, “Operation Epic Fury,” which U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed via Truth Social had resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The seismic shift in Iranian leadership has triggered massive retaliatory strikes, prompting the United Arab Emirates’ air defence systems to actively intercept waves of incoming drones and missiles near Dubai. While Iranian state television has since confirmed Khamenei’s death and declared 40 days of mourning, analysts warn that the ensuing security vacuum is likely to prolong the regional aviation lockdown.
Operational pauses and carrier statements
Major Gulf carriers have halted operations indefinitely. “The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority,” Emirates said in a statement. “We apologise to customers affected by disruptions for any inconvenience caused, and we are assisting them with rebooking, refunds, or alternative travel arrangements.” Etihad Airways confirmed on X that “all our flights have been cancelled until 2pm on 01 March UAE local time.” United Airlines said Tel Aviv flights from the U.S. are canceled through March 6, with flights to Dubai canceled through March 4. Crews and aircraft have departed Tel Aviv and plans are in the works to remove crews in Dubai, a spokesman said.
Global diplomatic response
Governments have shifted to emergency footing. The U.S. State Department has set up a task force to assist U.S. citizens and support diplomatic efforts. In West Africa, the Ghanaian government officially advised its citizens to suspend all non-essential travel. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East… In view of the current security developments, the Ministry advises all Ghanaian nationals to avoid non-essential travel to and from the region until further notice,” the official statement read.
The Israeli National Security Council was “calling on Israeli citizens abroad to take increased precaution at all destinations around the world.” Simultaneously, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem urged personnel to shelter in place while “advising U.S. citizens to exercise increased caution in Israel, West Bank, Gaza.” Delta Air Lines joined the wave of alerts, advising travelers that Tel Aviv service would be canceled through at least Sunday as the region braces for further instability.
Monitoring and passenger outlook
Aviation authorities and global carriers continue to review the safety of regional corridors on an hourly basis. While some airlines have initiated gradual rebooking processes, industry experts warn that the volume of cancellations will likely result in a multi-day backlog for international travel. Passengers are urged to monitor official airline communications and verify flight statuses before traveling to airports. As the regional security assessment evolves, the resumption of regular schedules remains contingent on a de-escalation of the current military standoff.
