[US Airstrikes on Iran] Korean Air Flight to Dubai Returns Due to Aftermath of Iran Strikes

Subsequent Dubai-Bound Flights Canceled
Other Routes, Including Those to Europe, Remain Unaffected

On the 28th (local time), smoke is seen rising in downtown Tehran, Iran, following airstrikes by the United States and Israel. Photo by AP Yonhap News

As a result of airstrikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory, Korean Air flights between Incheon and the Middle East have been forced to return to base or have been canceled.

Korean Air announced that flight KE951 (B787-9), which departed Incheon International Airport at 1:13 p.m. on February 28 and was en route to Dubai International Airport, was forced to return to Incheon from Myanmar airspace, and is expected to land back at Incheon at around 10:30 p.m. The operation of flight KE952, which was scheduled to depart Dubai for Incheon at 9 p.m. on the same day, was also canceled.

Korean Air explained, "While operating to Dubai, we received information that the airspace of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had been closed due to the aftermath of the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran, so we decided to return the flight." Korean Air stated it will continue to closely monitor the situation and adjust subsequent flight schedules as needed. Depending on changes in the local situation, flights on the Dubai route may continue to be affected after March 1, so the airline plans to provide updates on operations via its website and other channels.

Korean Air is the only domestic airline that operates the Incheon-Dubai route, with round-trip flights seven times a week (daily). The Incheon-Tel Aviv, Israel route, which Korean Air previously operated, has remained suspended since October 2023 following armed conflict between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel.

Other Korean Air routes to Europe and elsewhere have not yet been affected.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.