Hundreds of passengers were stranded at the Kotoka International Airport on Saturday night after escalating tensions in the Middle East forced the suspension of flights to Dubai. Emirates flight EK 788, scheduled to depart from Terminal 3 at 1915 GMT, was officially cancelled, disrupting a key transit route linking Ghana to Asia, Europe and North America.
The disruption follows widespread airspace closures across parts of the Gulf region, including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, after Iranian retaliatory missile strikes targeted United States military bases and other regional sites. Global flight monitoring platforms indicated significant reductions in commercial air traffic as airlines suspended or rerouted services to avoid affected air corridors. Operations at Dubai International Airport were reported to be under partial closure, prompting Emirates to advise passengers travelling within the next 72 hours to check their flight status.
The aviation disruption comes amid intensified hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran, following claims by US President Donald Trump that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed in coordinated strikes on Tehran. Iranian officials have disputed aspects of the claims. Emirates has urged affected passengers to contact the airline or their travel agents for rebooking or refund arrangements as the security situation continues to evolve.
