My Emirates Flight To Dubai Almost Turned Back Due To Missiles

TL;DR

CNBC's Middle East Bureau Chief was 20 minutes from landing in Dubai when air traffic control ordered her flight back to Mumbai due to an Iranian missile barrage.

Key Points

• 1.Emma Graham boarded Emirates flight EK501 from Mumbai at 2:20 a.m. with only ~100 passengers — the sole remaining flight into the UAE while all other Middle East destinations on the departures board were closed.
• 2.The captain announced they were ordered to turn back because missiles had begun hitting the UAE, but roughly 10–15 minutes later cleared them to land, prompting cheering and clapping throughout the cabin.
• 3.An Emirates crew member told Graham the plane was being escorted by two UAE fighter jets, and upon landing she found Dubai Airport's arrivals board completely blank — their flight was the only one coming in.