Normal operations resume at Dubai airport after suspected drone activity grounded flights

Dubai airport, the hub for airlines Emirates and flydubai, is the world’s busiest airport for international travellers, serving 81.4 million passengers in the first 11 months of 2018. (File/ AFP)
Updated 15 February 2019
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Normal operations resume at Dubai airport after suspected drone activity grounded flights

  • The Government of Dubai said that the procedures were a precaution to ensure the security of passengers
  • The UAE Civil Aviation Authority said it is investigating the incident

DUBAI: Flights at Dubai International Airport were temporarily grounded on Friday morning due to suspected drone activity, a spokesperson said.
The suspension lasted from 1013 local time (0613 GMT) to 1045.

The Government of Dubai said that the procedures were a precaution to ensure the security of passengers.

Meanwhile, the UAE Civil Aviation Authority said it is investigating the incident. 

Dubai airport, the hub for airlines Emirates and flydubai, is the world’s busiest airport for international travellers, serving 81.4 million passengers in the first 11 months of 2018.
The issue of drones impacting commercial air traffic has taken on new urgency after reports of sightings around airports in Britain and the United States.
In January, flights from London’s Heathrow airport were halted for about an hour after a drone was sighted. Sightings also temporarily halted arrivals at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
Gatwick Airport, London’s second busiest airport, was severely disrupted by drone activity in December.
Passengers at Dubai took to Twitter to complain about Friday's delay.

(With Reuters)


Israeli forces demolish Palestinian facilities in Jericho

Updated 7 sec ago
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Israeli forces demolish Palestinian facilities in Jericho

  • Israeli authorities have conducted 538 demolitions in the past 12 months, totaling 1,400 structures
  • Excluding East Jerusalem, there are about 3 million Palestinians and 500,000 Israeli settlers living in the West Bank

LONDON: Israeli authorities demolished a house on Thursday in the town of Deir Al-Dik, located west of Jericho in the West Bank, and issued a demolition order for another structure east of the city.

Israeli bulldozers stormed Deir Al-Dik and demolished a house belonging to a resident of Jerusalem, claiming it was built without a permit, according to the Wafa news agency.

Forces also demolished a barracks in the city that belonged to the Abu Jarar factory and issued a demolition order for another structure related to the Sinqrat palm grove, east of Jericho.

The Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported that the Israeli authorities conducted 538 demolitions in the past 12 months, totaling 1,400 structures. This included 304 occupied homes, 74 unoccupied homes, 270 economic facilities and 490 agricultural facilities, primarily in Hebron, Jerusalem, Ramallah, Tubas and Nablus.

Excluding East Jerusalem, which was occupied and annexed by Israel in 1967, there are about 3 million Palestinians and 500,000 Israeli settlers living in the West Bank.