Dubai Bombing: Passengers Escape Minutes Before Attacks as Boston Logan Flights Are Canceled

Bombs were dropped around the Middle East on Saturday morning, including in Iran, Israel and the United Arab Emirates, in a development that closed airspace above those areas and led to flights being canceled. The Dubai Bombing and related strikes prompted cancellations of flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi from Boston Logan International Airport Saturday night, and passengers who left Dubai said their flight took off about thirty minutes before bombs hit the city.

Dubai Bombing: narrow escapes and disrupted routes

Passengers coming from Dubai described narrowly escaping the violence when their plane departed roughly thirty minutes before explosions struck the city. Airspace above affected areas was shut down, and flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi were canceled from Boston Logan International Airport Saturday night as a result of the strikes and subsequent airspace restrictions.

One Boston family’s tense reunion

Bharadh Nagula said he was anxious waiting at the airport for his wife and two daughters, who had been on vacation in India and were returning to Boston with a connecting flight through Dubai. Nagula waited inside the terminal after a stressful morning when he woke up to news of the bombings. His wife later described the return flight as having taken a different path that added about ninety minutes to the trip.

The family learned of the situation in Dubai only after landing back in Boston. Messages from relatives warned they had been lucky to get through; otherwise they would have been stuck in Dubai for an uncertain period, and being stranded with two young children would have been considerably worse. The family embraced when the mother and daughters passed through the security checkpoint, relieved they had escaped the attacks and were able to return home. Nagula said he was very relieved they had been waiting since morning and that, with flight times changing, he was glad they were home safe and sound.

Flight disruptions at Boston Logan International Airport

Flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi were canceled from Boston Logan International Airport Saturday night amid the wider shutdown of airspace over the affected Middle Eastern areas. Some flights rerouted or adjusted their paths; one returning family reported an extended flight time of about ninety minutes due to a different route. Passengers who departed Dubai described taking off about thirty minutes before bombs struck the city.

Developing coverage and viewer guidance

This is a developing story; check back for updates as more information becomes available. Audiences were encouraged to download a free breaking-news app for alerts, to follow social channels for updates, and to watch live coverage options offered by the bulletin that carried these reports.

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Accessibility note flagged on the original bulletin

A message associated with the online bulletin stated that a website was unavailable to users outside the United States, noting: "This website is unavailable in your location. It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States, therefore access cannot be granted at this time. " The original item also appeared on a social page tied to the news publisher.

The situation in the Middle East and its travel fallout remain fluid; details may evolve as more reporting emerges.