Travelers across the Middle East are adapting to altered air travel conditions as regional conflict persists into its second month, presenting unique challenges for aviation operations. Airports frequently encounter missile and drone threats, leading to passenger evacuations, flight delays, and near-miss incidents.
A recent flight departing Tel Aviv for Athens illustrated these new realities when passenger phones sounded missile alerts just after the cabin doors were sealed. Crew and air-traffic controllers promptly reopened the doors, evacuating everyone from the aircraft. Such scenarios are becoming increasingly common, with air-raid sirens triggering shelter-seeking protocols and flights departing or landing mere minutes after incoming fire.
The conflict, which commenced around February 28, has involved Iran regularly launching missiles and drones, some targeting key airports in nations like the United Arab Emirates and Israel. While local authorities report high interception rates for these projectiles, shrapnel from downed threats can still scatter over broad areas, causing damage. Osprey Flight Solutions, an aviation-security firm, reports that at least nine civilian airports across seven countries have been impacted since the conflict began, with at least five parked commercial aircraft hit. No commercial flights have been brought down.
Despite the heightened risks, many individuals are finding it difficult to defer necessary travel. Sara Kahn Shapiro, a 66-year-old retired teacher, acknowledged her discomfort but cited a perceived high probability of safety for her decision to fly from Israel to the U.S. for family engagements.
Airport executives are acutely aware of the dangers. Sharon Kedmi, CEO of the Israel Airports Authority, identified takeoff as a particularly vulnerable phase, with passengers situated in aircraft holding substantial fuel reserves. Kedmi noted, "You cannot leave the plane once you’re on the tarmac." Israel's Ben Gurion Airport has remained operational throughout the conflict, a novel situation, with the authority implementing safety measures while acknowledging that certain situations remain beyond their direct control.
Israeli aviation security managers are leveraging modern technology and coordinating with airlines to designate secure flight corridors and adjust aircraft altitudes to minimize exposure to threat zones. However, not all experts agree on the safety of continued operations. Osprey Flight Solutions maintains an "extreme-risk" warning for operators across a significant portion of the region. Jamie Thornback, who represented families of victims from a 2020 commercial flight mistakenly downed by Iranian forces, cautioned that travelers might be underestimating the hazards, predicting a future incident.
Nonetheless, air travel continues. Guy Berman, a 28-year-old Israeli student, described passengers as "pretty chill" after waiting out air-raid sirens before a recent flight to Cyprus, suggesting that those overly apprehensive might simply choose not to fly currently.
The UAE has sought to manage public perception of attacks, implementing penalties, including potential jail time and significant fines, for sharing unapproved images or videos of strikes or damage. A passenger described chaotic scenes at Dubai International Airport on March 19 during an evacuation prompted by a siren. Days prior, another passenger recorded footage, verified by independent sources, of a fuel tank ablaze after being struck by an Iranian drone near a landing aircraft in Dubai.