An Emirates flight from London Heathrow to Dubai was held on the ground after mobile phone alerts warned of new Iranian drone and missile attacks in the United Arab Emirates.
The Airbus A380 had pushed back on schedule and was about to take off when the captain told passengers the aircraft was returning to stand because Emirates operations had instructed a hold as a precautionary measure.
The disruption came as the UAE said it had intercepted part of a fresh Iranian barrage and described the attack as a “dangerous escalation”. The airline later loaded extra fuel as a standard safety step while waiting for clearance to depart.
Euronews journalist Toby Gregory was on board the aircraft and reported that the cabin remained calm throughout the delay. He said passengers were not concerned about safety because of Emirates’ record on passenger protection.
“Literally just as we were about to take off, the plane was turned around,” said Toby Gregory, Euronews journalist, describing the moment the aircraft was returned to the stand.
The flight had been due to leave London at 16:15 BST on Monday. About an hour later, ground crews began loading additional fuel to give the aircraft more flexibility in case it had to divert or circle before landing in Dubai.
The incident unfolded after the UAE defence ministry said four cruise missiles launched from Iran had been detected toward different parts of the country. It said three were engaged over territorial waters and one fell into the sea.
The UAE foreign ministry condemned the strikes, saying they represented a “dangerous escalation and an unacceptable transgression” and posed a direct threat to security, stability and the safety of the country. It said the UAE reserved its “full and legitimate right to respond” to the attacks.
Iran rejected the allegation that it had targeted the UAE. A senior Iranian military official said Iran had “no plans” to target the country, according to Iranian state television.
The UAE also ordered schools to switch to remote learning for the rest of the week. The education ministry said the move would run from Tuesday, 5 May 2026, until Friday, 8 May 2026.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the attacks were “a clear violation of sovereignty and international law”. She added that security in the Gulf had direct consequences for Europe.
She said the EU would work with partners on “de-escalation and diplomatic resolution, to bring an end to the Iranian regime’s brutal actions”.
For passengers on the Emirates flight, the immediate impact was a delayed departure and an extended wait on board. But the cabin atmosphere stayed calm while the airline and airport teams assessed the situation.
Emirates has not publicly detailed how long the flight was delayed, but the decision to hold the aircraft reflected wider regional concern after the latest exchange of strikes.
