Edinburgh–Doha Qatar flight QTR59F makes mid-air U-turn as explosions reported in Doha
A Qatar Airways service bound for qatar from Edinburgh performed a mid-air U-turn and returned to Scotland on Saturday after explosions were reported in the Gulf capital. The reversal has added to travel disruption during a day of regional strikes and missile interceptions that also prompted market warnings about oil-price swings.
QTR59F flight path and in-flight U-turn
Flight QTR59F departed Edinburgh Airport around 7. 50am on Saturday, February 28, scheduled to land in Doha later that evening. The aircraft, a Boeing 787, tracked south over England, crossed the North Sea, flew over Amsterdam and made it halfway across Germany before executing a full 180-degree turn and returning toward Edinburgh.
Doha explosions and Qatar defence ministry statement
The diversion came after reports that missiles were intercepted above Qatar and explosions were heard as far away as Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia, and within Qatar itself. A breaking update from Al Jazeera said, "New explosions have been reported in Doha. This comes shortly after Qatar’s defence ministry said it had downed all missiles targeting the country in a 'second wave' of attacks. "
Flightradar and Boeing 787 diversion details
Tracking data captured by Flightradar showed the Boeing 787 making the sharp turn and heading back toward Edinburgh. The aircraft’s reversal was visible in real time, and the presence of that flight on the route highlights how in-flight operations were affected midway across Europe.
Regional strikes, retaliation and oil-price warning
Earlier in the day, the United States and Israel struck Iran with a series of air strikes, and immediate retaliation followed. Analysts warned that those strikes and the subsequent regional exchange could push oil prices higher by an estimated $10 to $20 or more, a specific range cited as a potential market impact.
Communications and airline response
Qatari Airways has been approached for comment on the diversion and the broader situation. At the same time, the Qatar defence ministry’s statement that it had downed missiles in a second wave framed the immediate security explanation for the disturbances in and around Doha.
Local Edinburgh developments and other headlines
Alongside the aviation disruption, separate local items ran in coverage: an Edinburgh nursery closed suddenly with parents reportedly given less than a day’s notice, and a "much-loved" Edinburgh family home was listed for sale for the first time in more than 50 years. These items were published alongside the developing travel story.
Sports cards and tech notes mentioned with breaking coverage
The broader bulletin that carried the flight reversal also listed a series of sporting and tech items. Boxing promotion notes included Emanuel Navarette and Emanuel Navarrete and Eduardo Nunez, with references to a Navarrete v Nunez fight card in Glendale, Arizona; coverage also flagged a meeting between Emanuel Navarette and Eduardo Nunez in Arizona. Wrestling and mixed-martial-arts items mentioned Henry Cejudo v Urijah Faber in Tempe, Arizona, and a Brandon Moreno v Lone'er Kavanagh card in Mexico City. In addition, a calendar note pointed to WWE Elimination Chamber 2026 as the final premium live event before WrestleMania 42 in April.
The day’s non-aviation snippets also included a tech observation that a company continued its pattern from previous Xiaomi flagships by prioritizing powerful camera sensors, large batteries and selective global availability. Those varied items appeared alongside real-time updates on the Doha explosions and the Edinburgh flight reversal.
At this stage, some details remain unclear in the provided context: the full rationale for the single-flight diversion, whether other services were grounded, and any official travel advisories. Authorities and the airline have been named in brief statements, but further confirmation and follow-up are pending.
